The National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSS) is a leading academic supercomputing center based at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It provides advanced computational resources and expertise to support scientific and engineering research.
NCSS was established in 1985 with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). It has since grown into one of the premier supercomputing centers in the United States, known for its contributions to high-performance computing (HPC) and cyberinfrastructure.
The center is home to several high-performance computing systems, including the NCSA Blue Waters supercomputer. This system, retired in 2022, was capable of performing over 13 quadrillion calculations per second (13 petaflops). NCSA also operates other advanced computing resources, such as the Delta system, which supports many research projects.
NCSA supports research in various fields, including climate modeling, astrophysics, bioinformatics, and engineering. For example, researchers have used NCSA resources to simulate complex weather patterns, study the structure of the universe, and develop new materials. The center also is important for training the next generation of scientists and engineers in the use of advanced computational tools.
NCSA collaborates with numerous academic institutions, government agencies, and private companies to advance computational research. It is part of the University of Illinois' broader efforts to promote innovation and discovery through technology. The center also participates in national initiatives, such as the NSF's Cyberinfrastructure Structure for 21st Century Science and Engineering (CIF21).
One common misconception is that NCSA is solely focused on supercomputing. While supercomputing is a significant part of its work, the center also engages in data-intensive research, visualization, and software development. Another misconception is that NCSA's resources are only available to researchers at the University of Illinois. In reality, the center supports researchers from institutions across the United States and around the world.
NCSA continues to push the boundaries of computational research, providing the tools and expertise needed to tackle some of the most challenging scientific questions of our time.