Move the Needle: Final Report and Outcomes
In 2024, Alces Flight and Women in HPC (WHPC) partnered on a project to examine the real steps individuals and institutions are taking to make the field of supercomputing and artificial intelligence (AI) more equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible (EDIA). Here’s what we learned.
Now that the 2024 Move the Needle project has concluded, the teams at Alces Flight, the WHPC Executive Committee, and volunteers from across the community are excited to share the insights gained through a year of dedicated efforts. This final report and accompanying facilitation guide highlight the direct impacts made, key lessons learned, and actionable strategies for individuals and organizations looking to advance EDIA.
Building Accountability
One of the most significant takeaways from Move the Needle was the power of accountability. Participants reported that having a team to check in with made them far more likely to follow through on their goals. The project incorporated structured reporting and regular check-ins—strategies that many contributors later implemented in their own organizations. The final report details various methods for establishing accountability and ensuring goal success.
Securing Investment
A common challenge in goal-setting is the lack of investment—not just in terms of time and budget, but also leadership engagement, resource allocation, and space for reflection. Investing in goals from the outset significantly improves the likelihood of success. This report explores different investment strategies and critical questions to consider when committing to meaningful change.
It Takes a Village
One of the most inspiring outcomes of this project was the willingness of the HPC and AI communities to share their knowledge and frameworks for fostering inclusivity. Our final report captures three key outputs:
– Knowledge Portal Summary: Ten projects contributed interviews, blog posts, and presentations on topics such as student engagement, volunteering, coaching, and neurodiversity in the workplace.
– Event Summary: Throughout the UK, we participated in numerous events, gathering insights and presenting our findings—contributions that helped shape this report.
– Facilitation Guide: A separate guide focused on the structured approach taken by our Accountability Team (“A-Team”) to help others replicate or adapt our project.
A Community Effort
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the nearly 50 individuals who participated in or contributed to Move the Needle. This project would not have been possible without your dedication, insights, and hard work.