The public lecture series “Sustainability in Computer Science” continues on November 18, 2024.

Ivona Brandic is Full Professor for High Performance Computing Systems at the Institute of Information Systems Engineering, Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) where she leads the HPC Research Group.

Abstract

In the first part of this talk, we will discuss the concepts of sustainable IT. We will present novel approaches for sustainable fault tolerance and trustworthy geographically distributed AI applications utilized on systems ranging from the size of a smartphone to a warehouse-scale data center. Furthermore, we will discuss the novel concept of hybrid classic/quantum systems as a response to the increasing demand for computational resources. Scientific applications are nowadays utilizing different types of hardware accelerators, including GPUs, TPUs, and NPUs. With the arrival of the post Moore Era and the rise of quantum computing, we are experiencing new opportunities but also challenges when trying to integrate quantum computers into the well-known computational continuum. This integration into so-called hybrid systems promises resource efficiency at a new order of magnitude. We will discuss challenges regarding data encoding, noise, transpilation, and the high heterogeneity of quantum architectures, which necessitate the development and integration of additional hardware/software layers. In the second part of the talk, we will present several use cases where IT can be utilized to combat climate change and help us develop a more sustainable world, including sustainable watershed management through IoT-driven artificial intelligence and satellite-based monitoring of livestock in the Alpine region.

Join us

Whether you’re a student, a professional looking to expand your knowledge, or a citizen interested in sustainability issues – this lecture series is open to anyone. Switch on your laptop and join us via Zoom!

About Lecture Series “Sustainability in Computer Science”

With climate change rapidly advancing, Sustainability is no longer an option, but a must. Targeting economic, social, and ecological issues through sustainable development has to become our top priority - a priority that’s underpinned by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Computer Science (CS), and more recently, Artificial Intelligence (AI), has been hailed as the solution to many sustainability problems (and yes, it is!). Still, ensuring energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions are crucial to guarantee the responsible and equitable use of our reseources. The relationship between informatics and sustainability has two key dimensions: Sustainability with CS, often called “Computational Sustainability,” and Sustainability for CS, also known as “Sustainable CS.”

This Public Lecture Series is the first of its kind in Austria, with all Austrian CS departments and faculties participating under the auspices of Informatik Austria. After a successful first iteration, the lecture series will continue this fall. We want to raise awareness for the importance of Sustainability in CS, demonstrate research solutions to various problems, and trigger developments for a sustainable future.

The lecture series will be held in the winter semester 2024/2025, every Monday from 17:00-18:00. All lectures will be offered online and will be recorded. We also have one hybrid lecture which will be held on-site at TU Wien and online on November 4, 2024.

Students from participating universities can register to get credits for the series. Please refer to your respective institution for registration.

TU Wien students can register for VU 194.155 “Sustainability in Computer Science” via TISS. Depending on your study program, the lecture series is a free elective or a “Wahlpflichtfach”; please refer to TISS for further information.

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