The Numerical Algorithms Group (NAG), experts in algorithms, software and HPC, has been recognised as one of the first Chapters in the new Women in High Performance Computing (WHPC) Pilot Program.
NAG has long recognised the need to improve diversity in STEM and has supported the WHPC agenda since its inception, through participation in outreach activities including talks at WHPC workshops by NAG HPC consultants Sally Bridgwater and Qingqing Liao, sponsorship, dissemination, and more. NAG is delighted to be the first commercial organisation to join the WHPC Chapter and Affiliates Program.
‘The WHPC Chapter Pilot will enable us to reach an ever increasing community of women, provide these women with the networks that we recognise are essential for them excelling in their career, and retaining them in the workforce’ says Dr Sharon Broude Geva, WHPC’s director of Chapters and director of Advanced Research Computing (ARC) at the University of Michigan (U-M). ‘At the same time, we envisage that the new Chapters will be able to tailor their activities to the needs of their local community as we know that there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution to diversity.’
‘At WHPC we are delighted to be accepting NAG as a Chapter under the pilot program, and working with them to build a sustainable solution to diversifying the international HPC landscape’ said Dr Toni Collis, chair and co-founder of WHPC and Chief Business Development Officer at Appentra Solutions.
NAG has set a number of goals to highlight and improve inclusivity in NAG and the wider HPC/STEM community, including:
• NAG will publish updated diversity data for SC18 and has committed to do this annually (NAG was one of the very few organisations to respond to the SC16 Chair’s challenge to publish staff diversity data at SC15.)
• NAG will adapt its internal processes to make NAG a better and fairer workplace for all, welcoming diversity across gender, age, nationality, and more.
• NAG will proactively highlight the importance and benefits of inclusivity, including through participation in WHPC activities.
• Evangelise STEM/HPC as attractive career options for women by working with schools, supporting inclusive networking, and positive role models.
‘NAG has become known as an international leader in skills development for HPC – from programming skills to HPC centre leadership. It is an essential part of our mission to ensure opportunities for current and future HPC people in our community are as inclusive as possible’ said Andrew Jones, vice-president Strategic HPC Consulting and Services at NAG.
