# NERSC Weekly Email, Week of October 30, 2023<a name="top"></a> # ## Contents ## ## [Summary of Upcoming Events and Key Dates](#section1) ## - [Scheduled Outages](#outages) - [Key Dates](#dates) ## [This Week's Events and Deadlines](#section2) ## - [Matplotlib and NERSC Python Kernel Update: October 31st](#matplotlib) - [Save the Date: NERSC Quantum for Science Day on November 2](#quantum4sci) ## [Perlmutter](#section3) ## - [Perlmutter Machine Status](#perlmutter) - [(NEW/UPDATED) New IDL Version Coming in November!](#idl) ## [Updates at NERSC ](#section4) ## - [(NEW/UPDATED) NERSC Shell Support Policy](#shellpolicy) ## [NERSC User Community ](#section5) ## - [Got a Tip or Trick to Share with Other Users? Post It in Slack or Add It to NERSC's Documentation!](#tipsntricks) - [Submit a Science Highlight Today!](#scihigh) ## [Calls for Submissions](#section6) ## - [PASC24 Call for Submissions Open Through December 1](#pasc) - [ASCR Leadership Computing Challenge Pre-Proposals Due November 13](#alccprep) - [Attention Future & Early PhD Students: Applications for Computational Science Graduate Fellowship Now Open!](#csgf) ## [Webinars / Meetings](#section7) ## - [IDEAS ECP Webinar, Nov 8 -- A cast of thousands](#ideasecp) - [(NEW/UPDATED) Kokkos User Group Meeting December 12-15](#kokkosmtg) ## [NERSC News ](#section8) ## - [Come Work for NERSC!](#careers) - [About this Email](#about) ([back to top](#top)) --- ## Summary of Upcoming Events and Key Dates <a name="section1"/></a> ## ### Scheduled Outages <a name="outages"/></a> (See <https://www.nersc.gov/live-status/motd/> for more info): - **Perlmutter** - 11/16/23 06:00-22:00 PST, Scheduled Maintenance - **HPSS Archive (User)** - 11/15/23 09:00-13:00 PST, Scheduled Maintenance - Some retrievals may be delayed during disk cache maintenance. - 12/06/23 09:00-13:00 PST, Scheduled Maintenance - System down for quarterly maintenance. - **HPSS Regent (Backup)** - 11/29/23 09:00-13:00 PST, Scheduled Maintenance - System down for quarterly maintenance. - **Jupyter** - 10/31/23 12:00-13:00 PDT, Scheduled Maintenance ### Key Dates <a name="dates"/></a> November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 31 31 #### This Week - **October 31, 2023**: [Matplotlib and NERSC Python Kernel Update](#matplotlib) - **November 1, 2023**: [Quantum for Science Day](#quantum4sci) #### Next Week - **November 8, 2023**: [IDEAS ECP Webinar: A cast of thousands](#ideasecp) #### Future - **November 13, 2023**: [ALCC Pre-Proposal Due Date](#alccprep) - **November 23-24, 2023**: Thanksgiving Holiday (No Consulting or Account Support) - **December 1, 2023**: [PASC Submission Deadline](#pasc) - **December 12-15, 2023**: [Kokkos User Group Meeting](#kokkosmtg) - **December 25, 2023 - January 1, 2024**: Winter Shutdown (Limited Consulting and Account Support) - **January 17, 2024**: [Computational Science Graduate Fellowship Applications Due](#csgf) ([back to top](#top)) --- ## This Week's Events and Deadlines <a name="section2"/></a> ## ### Matplotlib and NERSC Python Kernel Update: October 31st <a name="matplotlib"/></a> Users of the Matplotlib Jupyter integration package, ipympl, should be aware that on Tuesday, October 31, NERSC will update its JupyterLab deployment to use ipympl version 0.9.3 (from 0.8.6). On this date, the "NERSC Python" kernel also will be changed to match the new default Python module (python/3.11). If you have a custom kernel with ipympl 0.8.6 installed and want it to continue working with JupyterLab after this date, you will want to upgrade it to use ipympl version 0.9.3 and Matplotlib version 3.4.0 or later. If you upgrade or create new kernels and want to test them with the new JupyterLab deployment ahead of time, you may do so on our test hub. Open a ticket at https://help.nersc.gov for access to the test hub. ### Save the Date: NERSC Quantum for Science Day on November 2 <a name="quantum4sci"/></a> NERSC will hold a Quantum for Science Day event on November 2, 2023. This hybrid, single-day conference will highlight work that has been done on Perlmutter from some of our quantum users, and provide tutorials on quantum software and hardware from our industry collaborators. Additionally, there will be a panel discussion with participation from a range of national lab scientists and engineers who will discuss their plans for integrating quantum into their computational workloads. ([back to top](#top)) --- ## Perlmutter <a name="section3"/></a> ## ### Perlmutter Machine Status <a name="perlmutter"/></a> Perlmutter is available to all users with an active NERSC account. Some helpful NERSC pages for Perlmutter users: * [Perlmutter queue information](https://docs.nersc.gov/jobs/policy/#qos-limits-and-charge) * [Timeline of major changes](https://docs.nersc.gov/systems/perlmutter/timeline/) * [Current known issues](https://docs.nersc.gov/current/#perlmutter) This section of the newsletter will be updated regularly with the latest Perlmutter status. ### (NEW/UPDATED) New IDL Version Coming in November! <a name="idl"/></a> During the upcoming November 16 Perlmutter maintenance, NERSC will add a module for IDL version 8.9. The IDL 8.5 module will remain in place and remain the default version until the Allocation Year 2024 (AY24) rollover. In AY24, we will change the IDL default to 8.9. We encourage you to try the new IDL version via `module load idl/8.9`. If you have questions or feedback, please open a ticket via <https://help.nersc.gov>. ([back to top](#top)) --- ## Updates at NERSC <a name="section4"/></a> ## ### (NEW/UPDATED) NERSC Shell Support Policy <a name="shellpolicy"/></a> By default, the login shell for a user account is bash. Users also have the option to change their default shell to csh, tcsh, zsh, or ksh. **Only bash is fully supported by NERSC at this time**; all other shells are supported on a basic level. For fully supported shells (bash): - NERSC will test tools, modules, and scripts upon system updates, and fix errors with high priority. - We reserve the right to take unscheduled outages to fix critical issues. For basic supported shells: - NERSC will deploy the version supplied by the underlying OS and a basic skeleton configuration. - We do not guarantee that tools and scripts deployed by NERSC staff will work with these shells, and fixes for reported issues will be treated as lower priority. ([back to top](#top)) --- ## NERSC User Community <a name="section5"/></a> ## ### Got a Tip or Trick to Share with Other Users? Post It in Slack or Add It to NERSC's Documentation! <a name="tipsntricks"/></a> Do you have a handy tip or trick that you think other NERSC users might be able to benefit from? Something that helps make your use of NERSC resources more efficient, or saves you from needing to remember some obscure command? Share it with your fellow NERSC users in one of the following ways: - A new `#tips-and-tricks` channel on the [NERSC Users Slack](https://www.nersc.gov/users/NUG/nersc-users-slack/) (login required -- you may also join the NERSC Users Slack at this link) has been started and provides a daily tip or trick. Feel free to share it there! - Add it to the NERSC documentation -- NERSC's technical documentation pages are in a [Gitlab repository](https://gitlab.com/NERSC/nersc.gitlab.io/), and we welcome merge requests and issues. - Speak up during the "Today-I-Learned" portion of the [NUG Monthly Meeting](https://www.nersc.gov/users/NUG/teleconferences/). ### Submit a Science Highlight Today! <a name="scihigh"/></a> Doing cool science at NERSC? NERSC is looking for cool, scientific and code development success stories to highlight to NERSC users, DOE Program Managers, and the broader scientific community in Science Highlights. If you're interested in your work being considered to be used as a featured Science highlight, please let us know via our [highlight form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScP4bRCtcde43nqUx4Z_sz780G9HsXtpecQ_qIPKvGafDVVKQ/viewform). ([back to top](#top)) --- ## Calls for Submissions <a name="section6"/></a> ## ### PASC24 Call for Submissions Open Through December 1 <a name="pasc"/></a> The Platform for Advanced Scientific Computing (PASC) invites research paper submissions for PASC23, co-sponsored by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and SIGHPC, which will be held at ETH Zurich, HCI Campus Honggerberg, Switzerland, from June 3-5, 2024. The PASC Conference series is an international platform for the exchange of competences in scientific computing and computational science, with a strong focus on methods, tools, algorithms, application challenges, and novel techniques and usage of high performance computing. The 2024 technical program is centered around seven scientific domains: Chemistry and Materials; Climate, Weather, and Earth Sciences; Computational Methods and Applied Mathematics; Applied Social Sciences and Humanities; Engineering; Life Sciences; and Physics. PASC24 solicits high-quality contributions of original research related to scientific computing in all of these domains. Papers that emphasize the theme of PASC24 – "Synthesizing Applications Through Learning and Computing" – are particularly welcome. The final deadline for submissions is December 1, 2023. For more information on PASC23, including submissions, please see <https://pasc24.pasc-conference.org>. ### ASCR Leadership Computing Challenge Pre-Proposals Due November 13 <a name="alccprep"/></a> The ASCR Leadership Computing Challenge (ALCC) is an allocation program for projects of interest to the Department of Energy (DOE), with an emphasis on high-risk, high-payoff scientific campaigns enabled via high-performance computing (HPC) in areas directly related to the DOE mission, that respond to national emergencies, or that broaden the community of researchers capable of using leadership computing resources. ALCC is currently soliciting proposals for allocation awards for the 2024-2025 allocation year. High performance computing (HPC) platforms available for the current allocation cycle include Frontier, the new exascale system at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF); early access on Aurora, the new exascale system at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF); Polaris, a new 44-petaflop accelerated system at ALCF; 6-month allocations on Theta at ALCF; and Perlmutter, a new accelerated system at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC). 10% to 30% of the allocatable computing time will be made available on each of these machines to the ALCC program. The ALCC proposal submission process is a two-part application containing a pre-proposal submission and a proposal submission. The pre-proposal will be evaluated for project scope and suitability for the requested resource. The full proposal will evaluated by a panel of experts for scientific merit, responsiveness to DOE and National priorities, and computational merit. For more information and to apply, please see the [Call for Proposals](https://science.osti.gov/ascr/Facilities/Accessing-ASCR-Facilities/ALCC). Pre-proposals are **due Monday, November 13, 2023, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time**. ### Attention Future & Early PhD Students: Applications for Computational Science Graduate Fellowship Now Open! <a name="csgf"/></a> Are you a US citizen or permanent resident interested in pursuing a doctorate in engineering or the physical, computer, mathematical or life sciences at an accredited US university (or within your first year of PhD)? If so, consider applying for a Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF). Successful applicants can receive, for up to 4 years, a generous yearly stipend, payment of full tuition and required fees, a professional development allowance, the opportunity for a paid twelve-week practicum experience at a DOE national laboratory, and attend an annual program review held each summer in the Washington DC area. Please consider joining fellowship staff as they host an informational webinar at 2:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, December 7. This Zoom session ([register here](https://krellinst.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ef2ce85a914817e1fa927992&id=aa534a9d42&e=744a4272f1)) will provide an overview of the DOE CSGF and guidance for applying, and it will serve as a forum to ask related questions in a live Q&A format. A recording will also be made available via the fellowship website. For more information and to apply, please see <https://www.krellinst.org/csgf/>. Applications are due January 17, 2024! ([back to top](#top)) --- ## Webinars / Meetings <a name="section7"/></a> ## ### IDEAS ECP Webinar, Nov 8 -- A cast of thousands <a name="ideasecp"/></a> The next webinar in the Best Practices for [HPC Software Developers series](https://ideas-productivity.org/events/hpc-best-practices-webinars/) will take place on Nov 8th at 10PM PDT: "A cast of thousands: How the IDEAS Productivity project has advanced software productivity and sustainability", by David Bernholdt (Oak Ridge National Laboratory). The webinar will describe strategies that the IDEAS Productivity Project has used to help software teams across the Exascale Computing Project “up their game” with respect to their software practices. The webinar will wrap up with lessons learned by the IDEAS team and briefly consider possible futures for the DOE scientific software community. Go to the [event page](https://www.exascaleproject.org/event/ideas-ecp/) for details and to get your ticket to the online event. ### (NEW/UPDATED) Kokkos User Group Meeting December 12-15 <a name="kokkosmtg"/></a> The Kokkos team is excited to announce the upcoming Kokkos User Group Meeting 2023, which will be held on the 12th through 15th of December 2023 in Albuqerque NM. This meeting is an opportunity for the growing Kokkos community to come together to present progress in adopting Kokkos, exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and help set priorities for the future roadmap of Kokkos. We are inviting submissions for 20-minute presentations and/or 5min lightning talks that focus on the following topic areas: - Kokkos use-cases - Performance Analysis - Development practices and debugging - Experiences with teaching/learning Kokkos - Student contributions For registration and more details visit <https://kokkos.github.io/community/kug-2023>. ([back to top](#top)) --- ## NERSC News <a name="section8"/></a> ## ### Come Work for NERSC! <a name="careers"/></a> NERSC currently has several openings for postdocs, system administrators, and more! If you are looking for new opportunities, please consider the following openings: - [Data Science Workflows Architect](http://phxc1b.rfer.us/LBL3eO7sI): Support scientists at experimental facilities using supercomputing resources at NERSC. - [Data Science Workflows Architect](http://phxc1b.rfer.us/LBLl4072c): Work closely with application teams to help optimize their workflows on NERSC systems. - [HPC Systems Software Engineer](http://m.rfer.us/LBLSQh6ZH): Help architect, deploy, configure, and operate NERSC's large scale, leading-edge HPC systems. - [NESAP for Simulations Postdoctoral Fellow](http://m.rfer.us/LBLRUa4lS): Collaborate with computational and domain scientists to enable extreme-scale scientific simulations on NERSC's Perlmutter supercomputer. (**Note:** You can browse all our job openings on the [NERSC Careers](https://lbl.referrals.selectminds.com/page/nersc-careers-85) page, and all Berkeley Lab jobs at <https://jobs.lbl.gov>.) We know that NERSC users can make great NERSC employees! We look forward to seeing your application. ### About this Email <a name="about"/></a> You are receiving this email because you are the owner of an active account at NERSC. This mailing list is automatically populated with the email addresses associated with active NERSC accounts. In order to remove yourself from this mailing list, you must close your account, which can be done by emailing <accounts@nersc.gov> with your request. _______________________________________________ Users mailing list Users@nersc.gov