Edinburgh e-Science Edinburgh e-Science MScMSc

Bob Mann Bob Mann

Institute for AstronomyInstitute for Astronomy & & NeSCNeSC

University of EdinburghUniversity of Edinburgh

Overview of e-Science Overview of e-Science MScMSc

Due to start in September 2005Due to start in September 2005– ~15 students in the first year~15 students in the first year– ~80 students within five years~80 students within five years

Take broad view of e-ScienceTake broad view of e-Science– Multi-disciplinary courseMulti-disciplinary course– Aiming at suiting a wide range of studentsAiming at suiting a wide range of students

Build on existing Edinburgh Build on existing Edinburgh strengthsstrengths

What kind of students?What kind of students?

We see three types of students:We see three types of students:

1.1. Science students needing to develop Science students needing to develop IT skills for their future researchIT skills for their future research

2.2. Computer scientists looking to Computer scientists looking to future work in scientific computingfuture work in scientific computing

3.3. Computer scientists looking to web Computer scientists looking to web and Grid services in commercial ITand Grid services in commercial IT

Challenge – to satisfy all three Challenge – to satisfy all three typestypes

What kind of course?What kind of course?

Basic requirementsBasic requirements– Underlying principles Underlying principles andand hands-on hands-on

experience of current technologiesexperience of current technologies– Discipline in software engineeringDiscipline in software engineering– Range of options, given range of Range of options, given range of

students students

Requires strength in computer Requires strength in computer science and in a range of science and in a range of application areas application areas

What can Edinburgh What can Edinburgh offer?offer?

InformaticsInformatics– Existing MSc offering a wide range of coursesExisting MSc offering a wide range of courses

NeSCNeSC– Expertise in training in e-science technologiesExpertise in training in e-science technologies

EPCCEPCC– HPC and mix of CS and application studentsHPC and mix of CS and application students

ApplicationsApplications– Physical, earth and life sciences, plus new Physical, earth and life sciences, plus new

national Digital Curation Centrenational Digital Curation Centre

Basic programme Basic programme structurestructure Semester 1 (Sep-Dec)Semester 1 (Sep-Dec)

– Four mandatory coursesFour mandatory courses– Two optional coursesTwo optional courses

Semester 2 (Jan-Mar)Semester 2 (Jan-Mar)– Four mandatory coursesFour mandatory courses– Two optional coursesTwo optional courses

““Semester 3” (Apr-Sep)Semester 3” (Apr-Sep)– Individual research projectIndividual research projectMSc

Diploma

Mandatory coursesMandatory courses

Semester 1Semester 1– Distributed Computing for e-Science 1Distributed Computing for e-Science 1– Scientific Software Engineering 1Scientific Software Engineering 1– Introduction to Scientific DataIntroduction to Scientific Data– Programming for e-ScienceProgramming for e-Science

Semester 2Semester 2– Distributed Computing for e-Science 2Distributed Computing for e-Science 2– Scientific Software Engineering 2Scientific Software Engineering 2– Topics in e-ScienceTopics in e-Science– Project PreparationProject Preparation

Distributed Computing Distributed Computing

for e-Science 1 & 2for e-Science 1 & 2 Topics to include:Topics to include:

– Models of distributed computation and Models of distributed computation and their appropriateness for different taskstheir appropriateness for different tasks

– Generic problems in distributed computingGeneric problems in distributed computing Platform dependence, security, fault recovery, Platform dependence, security, fault recovery,

resource discovery and unavailabilityresource discovery and unavailability

– Hands-on experience of current packagesHands-on experience of current packages Condor, web services, Globus Toolkit, etcCondor, web services, Globus Toolkit, etc

To be taught by NeSC Training teamTo be taught by NeSC Training team

Scientific Software Scientific Software Engineering 1 & 2Engineering 1 & 2

Topics to include:Topics to include:– Software development cycleSoftware development cycle

From initial requirements to maintenance of codeFrom initial requirements to maintenance of code

– Benefits from disciplined software Benefits from disciplined software engineeringengineering

– Unified Modelling Language (UML)Unified Modelling Language (UML) Its use in the design of object-oriented softwareIts use in the design of object-oriented software

– Managing distributed software teamsManaging distributed software teams– Development of distributed software Development of distributed software

Developing existing Informatics coursesDeveloping existing Informatics courses

Introduction to Introduction to Scientific Data Scientific Data Topics to includeTopics to include

– The role of data in the scientific processThe role of data in the scientific process Validation, reproducibility, provenance Validation, reproducibility, provenance Passage from raw state to archived productsPassage from raw state to archived products

– Data management strategies Data management strategies Databases, files, XML, etcDatabases, files, XML, etc

– Metadata for data discovery & integrationMetadata for data discovery & integration– Case studies from several disciplinesCase studies from several disciplines

Seek collaboration with Digital Curation Seek collaboration with Digital Curation CentreCentre

Optional coursesOptional courses

Three types of optional courseThree types of optional course– Courses from existing MSc programmesCourses from existing MSc programmes

e.g. e.g. InformaticsInformatics, , High Performance ComputingHigh Performance Computing

– New courses from application areasNew courses from application areas e.g. astronomy - e.g. astronomy - The Virtual ObservatoryThe Virtual Observatory Preparing students to undertake projects in Preparing students to undertake projects in

several Schools within the Universityseveral Schools within the University

– Advanced (4Advanced (4thth/5/5thth year) undergrad. courses year) undergrad. courses

Wide range of existing options Wide range of existing options

Examples of individual Examples of individual study programmesstudy programmes

1.1. Student wants to work in drug Student wants to work in drug discovery discovery

– Core, plus Core, plus Bioinformatics 1Bioinformatics 1 & & 22, , Applied DatabasesApplied Databases and and Learning from Data 1Learning from Data 1

2.2. Student wants to be astronomerStudent wants to be astronomer– Core, plus Core, plus Virtual ObservatoryVirtual Observatory, , Astrophysical Astrophysical

CosmologyCosmology, , Applied DatabasesApplied Databases, , High Energy Astro.High Energy Astro.

3.3. Student wants to work in IT industryStudent wants to work in IT industry– Core, plus Core, plus Computer NetworkingComputer Networking, , Computer Computer

GraphicsGraphics, , Parallel ArchitecturesParallel Architectures, , Parallel Parallel Algorithms and ProgramsAlgorithms and Programs

Current statusCurrent status

Anticipate first admissions in Sept 2005Anticipate first admissions in Sept 2005– course approved at School & College levelcourse approved at School & College level– awaiting rubber-stamping at University awaiting rubber-stamping at University

levellevel Seeking funding to support studentsSeeking funding to support students

– Priority in recent EPSRC CTA bidPriority in recent EPSRC CTA bid– Marie Curie EST proposal in Dec (Dip.?)Marie Curie EST proposal in Dec (Dip.?)– Student Awards Agency for Scotland (Dip.)Student Awards Agency for Scotland (Dip.)

Long-term goalLong-term goal– All-Scotland (or all-UK?) collaboration All-Scotland (or all-UK?) collaboration