SC 2024 Workshop

The 20th international Women in HPC workshop will be held at SC24 in Atlanta, GA, USA with the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive HPC community. The WHPC workshop series has become the leading SC event focused on DEI topics. We aim to cultivate skills for valuing a diverse workforce and creating a welcoming environment for all. Following the workshop held at SC23, we have an increased emphasis on diversity and inclusion of both women and men from under represented groups.

WHPC@SC24 will focus on the following topics:

• Improving diversity and inclusion for all in the HPC workforce
• Building a deeper understanding of what diversity, equity, and inclusion means for different groups
• Strategies for recruitment, retention, and success
• Building community through real-time networking
• Learning from, and valuing, different experiences and career paths

We will also include short lightning talks by early career researchers from under represented groups.

The WHPC workshop aims to raise awareness and address issues around diversity and inclusion within the HPC community and workforce. Traditionally, our workshop series has focused on gender diversity and issues primarily facing women. Since the workshop at SC23, we have had an increased emphasis on diversity and inclusion of both women and men from under represented groups. By explicitly broadening our scope, we hope to increase participation from other minority groups and particularly those individuals who feel marginalized across multiple dimensions.

The WHPC workshop has two main priorities. First, our morning sessions focus on improving diversity and inclusion in the HPC workforce through building community.

Second, our afternoon sessions focus building connections within our community. One of the critical contributions of this workshop series to SC, and the wider community, is providing the workshop’s early career presenters with their first justifiable reason for attending not just the WHPC workshop, but the broader SC conference. We elevate the profile of these early career researchers through peer-reviewed abstract submissions for lightning talks. This year, we will also provide first-time SC attendees a chance to meet up and network with other newbies.

We would like to encourage everyone who has an interest in the equal representation of women and men from under-represented groups to attend our events and activities.

For the Workshop, prices vary depending on the type of SC registration.  Please ensure that you have purchased the correct pass for the event you wish to attend as on-site registration can be significantly more expensive.

What should I register for?

• Workshop: make sure you purchase an SC workshop pass.organizers
• WHPC Networking Reception: grab a wristband at Monday’s WHPC workshop, extra wristbands will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis at the networking reception door.
• I need a visa – what do I do? WHPC is not responsible for the workshop registration, this is entirely managed by the organizers of SC. Therefore Visa letter requests must be made to the SC conference organizers.

To take full advantage of the SC24 Early Bird Discount make sure that you register on or before October 15, 2024.

About the Submissions

This workshop provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for early-career researchers to present at an international conference, forge valuable networks, and attend their very first SC.

Submissions for talks are invited as extended abstracts (up to 2 pages) in any area that utilizes High-Performance Computing. Successful authors will be asked to provide a version of their work highlighting its goals, accomplishments, and impact to present in a short lightning talk (3 minutes) at the workshop. We are also offering mentorship to all successful authors to help with preparations for presentations, structuring lightning talks and making the most of attendance at an international conference. The extended abstracts will be published in a small proceedings to acknowledge your participation in the WHPC workshop.

We encourage anyone from an underrepresented group who considers themselves to be ‘early career’ (i.e., still studying, within five years of graduation, or within five years of transition into the field) to participate. However, this opportunity is open to help anyone who feels they may benefit from presenting their work, irrespective of career stage.  Traditionally, our workshop series has focused on gender diversity and issues primarily facing women. Since the workshop at SC23, we have had an increased emphasis on diversity and inclusion of both women and men from underrepresented groups. By explicitly broadening our scope, we hope to increase participation from other minority groups and particularly those individuals who feel marginalized across multiple dimensions.

As HPC is a large community that encompasses many different roles, we welcome both technical and non-technical contributors to submit about their work in order to broaden the knowledge of all those to attend our workshop. All abstracts should emphasize the impact of the work, such as the problem you are seeking to solve, the community benefits from investigating this work with or alongside HPC, any challenges noted and/or overcome, as well as any other challenges you wish to highlight.

About the Fellowships

Thanks to our supporters, including the WHPC Champion Do IT Now, we are delighted to provide reimbursable travel fellowships of up to $3,800 (approximately £3,000) for two (2) of our early career speakers.  This fellowship can be used for travel and accommodation needs, including flights/trains, hotels, conference passes, food and drink.

The WHPC travel fellowships ensure everyone has equal opportunity to attend and present at the conference. If you wish to be considered for this opportunity, please submit a personal statement (2 – 4 paragraphs) to tell us, in your own words, why we should select you for the fellowship. We will weigh your personal statement against your abstract submission in an equal score. From this up to two (2) individuals will be selected for the WHPC Travel Fellowship.

Benefits of Participation

• Showcase your work to an international HPC community!
• Networking: build your HPC network, meet peers and potential employers.
• Advice and mentoring: Receive expert advice and mentorship to help prepare for your presentation, including slides, how to structure a lightning talk for effective communication and how to make the most of the networking time afterwards.

Ready to Submit?

This submission requires an extended abstract (up to 2 pages), CV and optional personal statement to apply for travel fellowship funding. See all details and submit your application here: https://submissions.supercomputing.org/

Good luck, and we hope to see you presenting in Atlanta this November!

FAQ

What is a personal statement?
A personal statement is a 2-4 paragraph statement on why you, and an individual, should be selected as our WHPC Travel Fellow. This statement can include (but is not limited) to the following areas expressed:

• • Your area of study/work/research (career/study history).
  • Your volunteer experience within or related to the HPC community.
  • The direct benefits you will receive by attending.
  • Your intended outcomes from attending in regards to personal/professional development.
  • Personal insights or reflections on being part of Women in HPC (WHPC).

What makes up a good personal statement?
We find that those who best express their passion for the field of HPC coupled with what they hope to achieve as travel fellows and representatives of our community to be the most complete and successful statements.

Do you weigh statements for those who cannot attend SC without the travel fellowship higher?
There are two key factors that go into our selection process: 1. Their overall talk submissions score and 2. Their personal statement. Only in the event of a tiebreaker score of the two factors will we weigh those who cannot attend SC without the travel fellowship higher.