Digital Storytelling on an iPhone – Interview with a Master – My Daughter Azalea Bailey

At Vassar, we are grappling with going from high touch to no touch.

Azalea playing duetSometimes the only production machine one has is a phone? What do you do then? 

I interviewed my daughter, who shared with us these tips:

This is an example of a podcast / interview assignment embedded into a WordPress post.

Recommended Apps:

Vidstitch available oniOS and Android
iMovie on iOS
Collagemaker (multiple versions of this, I’ll try and suss it out)
inShot
Voice Memos (iOS)
Stop Motion Studio (iOS) –
Google Photo for backing up
Instagram Layout

Apparently Azalea ripped through all the crappy free apps to make in order to curate this list. Thanks Azalea!

Let’s now find the examples….

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Risa’s Bread

I believe we can use story to help each other. This bread is great bread, easy to make, and very economical. My wife taught herself from online recipes and I have recently been trained by the master.

Prepare to be amazed! This recipe takes very little labor, is economical on ingredients and yields delicious amazing bread.

The Recipe

3 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon yeast, 3/4 tsp salt, + approximately 1 3/4 cups of waterMeasure and mix the dry ingredients, doesn’t have to be super mixed.Ad warm water and stir (hot water if you are in a hurry).

lumpy bread dough

Bread dough should be lumpy and a little sticky, not too wet. Cover and let rise three to four hours until whenever (can rise overnight).

Get some fresh airRisa taking a selfieEnjoy quality time in nature

Take some picturesThink about stuff, do some errands

via GIPHY


  1. Take out of the bowl and spin it and knead it (doesn’t need much)Cover and let rise 30 minutes.Pre-Heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the pan and lid in the oven (empty). Pan heats for  30  minutes while the bread rises. Put the bread in the hot pan and bake for 30 minutes with the top on.Remove the top of the pan, bake for 15 more minutesRemove from the oven and let it cool. Reflect upon how much yeast you saved.
  2. bread machine recipe compared to Risa's bread

    Above: bread machine recipe, yields a small loaf, creates bread in an hour Below: Risa’s bread, much more yield for the cost, creates bread in 5-6 hours

  3. Gather your loved ones, slice and eat bread

Congratulations! You can make Risa’s Bread!

Risa jumping

 

Pedagogy: This is an example of using digital tools to tell the story of how to make bread. We are isolated but we are not alone. We are all in this together. Let’s make the best of it!

 

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Going Online in a Hurry – A person centered approach

Wow last week was a big change for the campus and the employees who work here! Nearly all employees are now remote work from home employees! All of our our faculty and students are having classes online!

And we did it! Huzzah! It was really an incredible feat and shoutouts and kudos all around! The fact that we made these pivots so quickly is a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of our faculty, administrators and students.

Now that we have had a taste of the online experience, it’s time to take a collective step back and have a good think about our learning goals and how to make the most of a bad situation, keeping in mind the needs of our students.

People Missing in Action

Some students have not returned to class or checked in. They could be traveling, they could be sick or they could be taking care of the sick. What will their experience be when they find their way to the your course site? Please pace activities and instructions accordingly. Maybe create a check-in forum.

Grades

Many colleges, including Vassar, are offering an NRO option. The policy is humane, generous and provides great flexibility in grading and conducting learning activities for the rest of the semester. Students can scale their level of involvement to match their available bandwidth. Leverage this to provide a more relaxed learning environment for everyone. 

Pressure

Anyone who knows me, knows I adore the faculty. They rise to every challenge and constantly amaze and impress. That very quality can be a little intimidating to students. This April, we need to avoid falling into the usual “April Frenzy”. The usual intensity at this juncture will be intolerable for just about everybody.

easy buttons in a bin

So, in your quest to provide the best instruction, please be careful to not inadvertently ramp up the pressure. Faculty members are heroes to students. Please provide learning activities for your students that can be scaled to suit their available time and energy and send the message that any level of involvement is okay. Everything is okay!. Don’t worry, be happy! It’s a free pass to participate however you can. Reduce the pressure, reduce the anxiety, & reduce the stress load. Give yourself a break, too!

Sliding Scale of Engagement

Design learning activities to accommodate a range of involvement. Only have time for a sentence? That’s fine. Want to post an image and a paragraph or two? Super! Want to make a full-length film because your home and bored? Coolio! It’s all OK! Have fun! The situation is serious but their learning activities can include levity.

Zoom / Teaching Online in Real Time

Zoom is a powerful and fantastic tool. Bear in mind it is just one tool in the online teaching toolkit.If you don’t like zoom, please be assured though that you don’t have to hold zoom classes for all the same times that you used to teach in person. We are already hearing reports of zoom fatigue. Most online classes typically provide very little synchronous content. I earned my Master’s degree online, and the synchronous real time experience was the exception, not the norm.

The beauty of an online class is that the activities can be conducted to suit one’s schedule. Some of your students are in different time zones. Maybe there’s only one computer in a house of eight. Maybe their internet connection is poor. Please design your online plans accordingly. Zoom excels class for check-ins, office hours, consults and the like. Please assure your students that if they can’t make a zoom session, that it is okay. Missing a zoom session should not be the equivalent of cutting a class. Ask your students how they think zoom fits into class. Also, gauge your own comfort level. Use the technology in a way that best fits your teaching style, your needs and your students’ needs.

 

 

 

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Technology Workshops Spring 2020

Intro to Zotero Groups for Creating Public Bibliographies

February 7, 2020 at 12:00 pm  (Electronic Classroom, Main Library)f

Letter Z in a hexagon - Zotero Logo

Zotero groups provide the opportunity for students and faculty to collaborate remotely to build custom bibliographies.These web-based bibliographies can be used in classroom instruction, community engagement activities, and much more. 

In this one hour workshop we will cover how to create a personal Zotero account, create a Zotero group, customize group privacy settings, add members to your group, and create collections of bibliographic content. Finally, we will touch upon publishing options to share your bibliographies with the world, including a demo of the implementation of the Zotero WordPress plugin. Led by Nicole Scalessa, Head of Digital Scholarship and Technology Services.

 

Intro to Audio Recording and Campus Resources

February 12, 2020 at 3:30 pm (Electronic Classroom, Main Library)

Chicago Hall Audio Recording in progressPlanning to record voice or music and you have never done it before? Interested in podcasting? Perhaps you have an interview you need to edit and share? We’ll review free and cross-platform tools and review resources for audio production. We’ll conclude by visiting the audio production facilities in the basement of Chicago Hall. Led by Baynard Bailey of Academic Computing Services.

 

Intro to Hypothesis: Annotate Online Resources in the Classroom (E Classroom)

February 19, 2020 3:30 pm (Electronic Classroom, Main Library)

hypothesis logo ('h' in a speech bubble)“Writing in the margins has always been an essential activity for students. Annotation helps in reading comprehension and in developing critical thinking about course materials. Hypothesis enables students to continue this essential activity with online readings.”

~ Source: https://web.hypothes.is/education/

Come learn how to digitally write in the margins of website content! You will create a personal Hypothesis account and test it on a variety of resources. We will also discuss new integrations recently released for use in Moodle that allow students to annotate web page content as well as PDFs in their course modules, without the need for a Hypothesis account. For more information on this new resource visit: https://web.hypothes.is/education/lms/

Led by Nicole Scalessa, Head of Digital Scholarship and Technology Services.

 

Getting to Know ArcGIS Pro

February 26, 2020 3:30 pm Sci Vis Lab, BLS 101

ArcGIS Pro Logo (map in a circle)ArcGIS Pro is ESRI’s next generation Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping and analysis software and successor to ArcGIS Desktop (the suite of desktop programs including ArcMap), which Vassar students and faculty use to teach, learn, and conduct research across several departments. While support for ArcGIS Desktop will continue for some time, more and more GIS professionals and organizations who use ArcGIS Desktop are transitioning to ArcGIS Pro. The purpose of this workshop is to familiarize students and faculty who currently use, or are interested, to use GIS software with ArcGIS Pro. Prior exposure to GIS software is recommended but not required. Led by Neil Curri, Academic GIS Computing Consultant and Adjunct Instructor at Vassar College.

 

Linux Part I

Feb 28, 2020 3:30 pm  Sci Vis Lab, BLS 101 

Linux PenguinLinux is an open-source operating system that can run on any computing device in the world! Come learn how to get started exploring the Linux world on your very own laptop, or use one of our computers. We’ll learn a brief history of Linux, look at the high-level structure of the operating system, talk about situations in which Linux would be a preferable OS, and start navigating the command line ourselves. We will go over common commands and how to navigate the file system, learn about permissions, shortcuts, and methods of installing software. Led by Chris Gahn of ACS.

Linux Part II

March 6, 2020 3:30 pm  Sci Vis Lab, BLS 101

Part II of the Intro to Linux Workshop will pick up where Part I left off. We will become more comfortable with navigating the command line, and introduce several new commands and programs. Finally, we will attempt to create our own Shell Script to perform some automated tasks. Led by Chris Gahn of ACS.

 

Intro to 3D Modelling 

Tinkercad logoMarch 25, 2020 3:30 pm Electronic Classroom, Main LibraryLearn the basics of 3D modelling for 3D printing, game design, and animation. Participants will engage in hands-on work in Tinkercad to create their own 3D objects. 3D models created in this class can be used in the Intro to 3D Printing course the following week. Led by Chad Fust of Academic Computing Services.

 

Screen Printing with the Vinyl Cutter Demonstration

March 27, 2020 10:00 am – 12:00 pm B19 Innovation Lab (Basement of College Center)

makerbot screen printingFamiliarize yourself with the vinyl cutter in the lab. Learn how to make a silk screen using cut vinyl. After this workshop, participants can make follow-up visits in order to create and print their own designs. Led by Amy Laughlin of Academic Computer Services.

Email amlaughlin@vassar.edu to RSVP 

 

Intro to 3D Printing  

April 3, 2020 10:00 am – 12:00 pm B19 Innovation Lab (Basement of College Center)

computer sending tinkercad job to 3d printerLearn the software and tools involved in 3D printing and see how 3D printers work. Participants will learn the workflows involved in sending print jobs to the 3D printers in the Innovation Lab. Bring your own 3D models from the Intro to 3D Modeling class or learn how to find 3D objects online. Led by Chad Fust of Academic Computing Services.

 

Intro to Video Editing with Final Cut Pro X

April 15, 2020 3:30 pm Electronic Classroom, Main Library

Final Cut Pro icon, desktop and cameraInterested in learning video editing or recording a narrated presentation? Come to this hands-on workshop where you will learn to use Apple’s powerful but easy to use video editing software. Led by Baynard Bailey of Academic Computing Services.

 

Intro to Laser Cutting 

April 17, 2020 10:00 am – 12:00 pm B19 Innovation Lab (Basement of College Center)

makerspace doorLearn the basics of using the laser cutter to engrave and cut a variety of materials. Participants will learn how to invent or adapt designs in order to print them on the laser cutter in the Innovation Lab. Find out how to safely operate the laser and choose safe and appropriate materials for a variety of projects. Led by Chad Fust of Academic Computing Services.

 

Intro to Machine Sewing: Standard Pillowcase 

April 24, 2020 10:00 – 12:00 B19 Innovation Lab (basement of College Center)

Sewing Machine at workCome learn the basics of sewing from cutting the fabric to threading the sewing machine, and ultimately going home with a standard size pillowcase. Due to the limited number of machines, materials, and space this class will be available to the first five registrants that contact nscalessa@vassar.edu; others will be waitlisted. If interest warrants, we will schedule another session. Enrollment is full but if you are interested in a workshop like this, please contact Nicole Scalessa, Head of Digital Scholarship and Technology Services.

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Technology Workshops Fall 2019

Technology Workshops Fall 2019

Moodle Basics 

Sept. 6, 2019 Library Electronic Classroom 10:00 am 

 moodle iconFor new or returning faculty: Learn or review the basic operations of Moodle, including adding content of different types; adding special activities such as assignments, discussion forums, and attendance tracking; emailing students; and managing enrollments. RSVP to moodle@vassar.edu. Friday Sept. 6 10am in the Library Classroom.

 

Faculty Open House in the Vassar Innovation Lab

Sept 6, 2019, Vassar Innovation Lab  2-5 pm

What if you could use a laser to cut through solid materials?makerspace door Or fly for miles without leaving the ground? What would you do with these powers? In our maker space, we have the tools to grant you these abilities, but we need your ideas to bring them to life. Come explore the world of maker technology, including laser cutters, 3D printers, drones, virtual reality, and more. Drop in any time after 2:00 on Friday, Sept. 6. (adjacent to the Old Bookstore). 

 

Save Today So History is Not Rewritten Tomorrow 

Sept. 25, 2019,  Library Electronic Classroom 3:30 pm

page not found by Image: Freepik.comAttendees will be encouraged to pick a theme and curate websites that are at risk and relevant to them personally. Student groups are welcome to come and save data that is important to your work. The goal of this workshop is to inform attendees in a very personal and hands-on way the fragility of data and the digital world as you know it. It will provide you with the tools to not only preserve but to also curate a moment in time. 

This workshop will provide an introduction to tools such as Archive-It and will use Google Sheets during the hands-on session. Contact Nicole H. Scalessa, Head of Digital Scholarship and Technology Services for more information, nscalessa@vassar.edu.

 

Into to Campus Audio Resources 

October 9, 2019 Library Electronic Classroom 3:30 pm

Chicago Hall Audio Recording in progressPlanning to record voice or music and you have never done it before? Interested in podcasting? Perhaps you have an interview you need to edit and share? We’ll review free and cross platform tools and review resources for audio production. We’ll conclude by visiting the audio production facilities in the basement of Chicago Hall. Led by Baynard Bailey of Academic Computing Services. Please rsvp to babailey@vassar.edu (suggested but not required).

 

Intro to Adobe Premiere

October 16, 2019 Library Electronic Classroom 3:30 pm

Interested in learning to edit video with a powerful and popular software suite? Come to this hands-on workshop where you will learn to use Adobe Premiere Pro. Led by Baynard Bailey of Academic Computing Services. Please rsvp to babailey@vassar.edu (suggested but not required).

Linux Penguin

 

Intro to Linux Part I

Nov. 1, 2019  Sci Vis Lab, Bridge Building 3:30 pm

Linux is an open-source operating system that can run on any computing device in the world! Come learn how to get started exploring the Linux world on your very own laptop, or use one of our computers. We’ll learn a brief history of Linux, look at the high-level structure of the operating system, talk about situations in which Linux would be a preferable OS, and start navigating the command line ourselves. We will go over common commands and how to navigate the file system, learn about permissions, shortcuts, and methods of installing software. Led by Chris Gahn of ACS. Please rsvp to chgahn@vassar.edu (suggested but not required)

Intro to Linux Part II

Nov. 8, 2019  Sci Vis Lab, Bridge Building 3:30 pm

Part II of the Intro to Linux Workshop will pick up where Part I left off. We will become more comfortable with navigating the command line, and introduce several new commands and programs. Finally, we will attempt to create our own Shell Script to perform some automated tasks. Led by Chris Gahn of ACS. Please rsvp to chgahn@vassar.edu (suggested but not required).”

 

Intro to Photographic Resources

Nov. 13, 2019 Library Electronic Classroom 3:30 pm

Need to put together your senior portfolio? Want to submit work to galleries or other exhibition calls for entry? Interested in stop-motion animation? Come to this workshop and learn about all the photographic and stop-motion filmmaking resources available to you on campus. Organized by DiSSCo, Led by Amy Laughlin of Academic Computing Services.  Please rsvp to amlaughlin@vassar.edu (suggested but not required).

Start Mapping with QGIS

Nov. 15, 2019 Sci Vis Lab Bridge Building 3:30

QGIS is a free and beginner-friendly way to start mapping with GIS (Geographic Information System). In this workshop we’ll learn how to find spatial data common to historical and social science research, and visualize it with QGIS mapping. No previous experience necessary. Taught by Carolyn Moritz, Digital Technologies Librarian.

 

 

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Technology Workshops Spring 2019

Savvy Research with Zotero

01/30 Wednesday 3:30 pm, Main Library Electronic Classroom 160zotero logo

Learn how to use Zotero to automatically grab citations from web content, organize your research with tags and keywords, collaborate for group work, and configure bibliography exports for print and web tools. Please RSVP to cmoritz@vassar.edu.

Video Editing: Final Cut Pro X 

02/08 Friday 1:00 pm, Main Library Electronic Classroom 160

Final Cut Pro icon, desktop and cameraInterested in learning video editing or recording a narrated presentation? Come to this hands-on workshop where you will learn to use Apple’s powerful but easy to use video editing software. Led by Baynard Bailey of Academic Computing Services, organized by DiSSCo. Please rsvp to babailey@vassar.edu (suggested but not required).

 

Video Editing: Adobe Premiere Pro

02/13 Wednesday 3:30 pm, Main Library Electronic Classroom 160

Interested in learning to edit video with a powerful and popular software suite? Come to this hands-on workshop where you will learn to use Adobe Premiere Pro. Led by Baynard Bailey of Academic Computing Services, organized by DiSSCo. Please rsvp to babailey@vassar.edu (suggested but not required).

 

Intro. to Python

python logo02/15 Friday 3:30 pm, Sci Viz Lab, Bridge Building

A hands-on intro to this popular scripting language. Led by Academic Computing Services’ Chris Gahn, organized by DiSSCo. Please rsvp to chgahn@vassar.edu (suggested but not required).

 

Intro. to R and Data Visualization

02/22 Friday 1:00 pm, Sci Viz Lab, Bridge Building

Basic overview of using R and RStudio for statistical analysis and data visualization. This workshop covers the practice of using R; it does not teach statistical concepts.Led by Carolyn Moritz, Digital Technologies Librarian. Please RSVP to cmoritz@vassar.edu (suggested but not required)

Intro to Digital Drawing 

digital drawing02/20 Wednesday 3:30 pm, Collaboration Studio, Main Library

Interested in drawing digitally or in VR? We will provide a brief overview of digital drawing options on mobile tablets, peripherals and in VR. Try out a number of different devices. Led by Amy Laughlin and Baynard Bailey of Academic Computing Services, organized by DiSSCo. Please rsvp to babailey@vassar.edu (suggested but not required).

 

High-Performance Computing (Cancelled)
03/01 Friday 1:00 pm, Sci Viz Lab, Bridge Building

 

Crafting with Arduinos (E-Sewing Follow-up)  

03/29 Friday 2:00 pm, Collaboration Studio, Main Library

Advanced follow-up to the fall E-Sewing workshop: Have fun making wearable tech with LilyPads and learn to use and program Arduino boards to bring your tech crafts to life. Those who have completed e-sewing projects at the library are encouraged to bring them for this workshop; however, all are welcome! Led by Carolyn Moritz, Digital Technologies Librarian. RSVP to cmoritz@vassar.edu (suggested but not required).

Photographing Your Artwork

photographing artwork04/05 Friday 3:00 pm Taylor Hall 328

Need to put together your senior portfolio? Want to submit work to galleries or other exhibition calls for entry? Come to this workshop and learn how to photograph 2D and 3D artwork. Organized by DiSSCo, Led by Amy Laughlin of Academic Computing Services.  Please rsvp to amlaughlin@vassar.edu (suggested but not required).

Intro. to GIS and Spatial Mapping 

04/10 Wednesday 3:30 pm, SciVis Lab, Bridge BuildingGIS map thumbnail

Need a custom map for a project or assignment? Interested in analyzing patterns, processes, and relationships between different features or phenomena across a geographic area? Geospatial mapping has applications in almost any discipline. Come to this hands-on workshop to make a custom map and learn about the tools and resources available for your own mapping project. Led by Neil Curri, GIS Academic Computing Consultant and Adjunct Instructor. (Image: Mariah Caballero, Biology & Geography ’19)

Introduction to Audio Recording 

04/17 Wednesday 3:30 pm, Collaboration Studio, Main Library

Chicago Hall Audio Recording in progressPlanning to record voice or music and you have never done it before? Come to this hands-on workshop where we’ll practice making recordings with Zoom recorders. We’ll also go over campus resources for audio production and visit the audio studio in Chicago Hall. Led by Baynard Bailey of Academic Computing Services, organized by DiSSCo. Please rsvp to babailey@vassar.edu (suggested but not required).  

Introduction to Audio Editing

04/24 Wednesday 3:30 pm Library Electronic Classroom 160 audacity logo

Interested in podcasting? Perhaps you have an interview you need to edit? Come to this hands-on workshop and learn about campus resources, tips on making good recordings and the basics of editing sound files with Audacity (and a brief overview of Audition, Garageband and Hindenberg).  Led by Baynard Bailey of Academic Computing Services, organized by DiSSCo. Please rsvp to babailey@vassar.edu (suggested but not required).  

VR Stress-Buster 

05/08 Wednesday 3:00 pm, Collaboration Studio, Main Library

vr person with headsetExplore first-hand the potential VR and 360 video have to offer on our various interactive VR devices and 360 video viewers. Brainstorm and discuss ways this can impact teaching and learning. Or just come to relax and have fun!

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Aerial Footage of the Casperkill Creek

In support of the Environmental Studies focus on the Casperkill Watershed, we recorded a flight above the Casperkill Creek, from its source to its mouth in the Hudson River, a distance of about 10 miles. The course was covered by 6 separate flights, as shown below. We also flew a course over the Casperkill’s biggest tributary, the Fonteyn Kill.

Click on a red or green line segment to see a drone video of the corresponding section of the Casperkill Creek, flown north to south, or click here to see all 6 segments in succession. (Click on the yellow line segment to see a drone video of the Fonteyn Kill.)

Casperkill section 1 Casperkill section 2 Casperkill section 3 Casperkill section 4 Casperkill section 5 Casperkill section 6 Fonteyn Kill
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3D Modeling a Thirteenth-Century Dove

The Eucharistic Dove, one of only a few left in existence, is found behind glass in the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, making it a difficult piece to investigate closely. Academic Computing Services students, Dylan MacDonald, Zechariah Lee, and Sufyan Abbasi, under the guidance of Amy Laughlin and Professor Andrew Tallon, were put to the task of producing a 3D model that preserves the texture of the Dove for closer inspection.

The model was produced using a technique called photogrammetry, which is the process of stitching together a 3D model based on a sequence of images. The technique combines novel application of computer vision with classical projection mapping that produces stunning results. The software used was Agisoft Photoscan, an industry standard photogrammetry software that allows users to stitch together an orbit of still photos into a 3D model, like so:

As a proof of concept, we began with trying to model a candlestick, donated to us by Professor Tallon, which had similar properties as the Eucharistic Dove in size and luster. Due to the reflective surface of the candlestick, we found that using a green screen was out of the question since the shades of green were reflecting off of the object and projected onto the model. After trying different techniques, we discovered that shooting with a white background in the Loeb photo studio proved to be the best way to eliminate any unwanted reflections in our model.

Once we took photos of all angles of the Dove (over 200 pictures total), we used Adobe Photoshop to mask out the backgrounds and loaded the images into Photoscan. There, a second masking process was done to tell the software the bounds of the object to be generated.

Once Photoscan was finished processing the files, we were left with a .obj file that formed the 3D model of the Dove, a .tif file that dictated the texture, (shown below) and a .mta file that maps the texture to the 3D model.

Next, we loaded the model into Blender, an open source 3D modeling software. Here, we made edits to the generated 3D model, such as filling in the bottom area of the Dove where photos were not available.

Finally, the model was ready to be published on SketchFab, an online publishing platform for 3D models, which allows users to manipulate the model in 3D space and view the model in virtual reality. 

From start to end, the process took about a semester for the initial research and testing, and half a semester for photographing the Dove and making edits to the model. Dylan and Zech worked on masking the Dove in Photoshop and Photoscan and generating the 3D model in Photoscan, and Sufyan worked with Blender to make the edits to the model.

Eucharistic Dove by Vassar College on Sketchfab

We hope that you enjoy the Dove as much as we enjoyed producing the model. If you have a project idea involving 3D modeling and need some help,  please contact Amy Laughlin in Academic Computing Services in CIS.

 

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High-Performance Computing at Vassar

What is HPC?
Have you ever tried to run some code or perform some data analysis on your personal computer, and it ended up taking several hours or even days to finish? Frequently, we interact with data sets or projects that are simply too taxing for a single computer (even a very powerful one) to complete. This happens very frequently in a variety of fields across disciplines. High-Performance Computing (or HPC as it is known) is a field in technology concerned with providing advanced computing resources to researchers in order to speed up their data processing or modeling projects. Typically, these computing resources take the form of what is known as a computing “cluster”, which is really just a fancy name for a large number of computers that are all connected together and process data in unison.

Who can benefit from HPC?
-Students
-Faculty
-Non-Faculty Researchers
-Administrative Staff

HPC at Vassar (on-campus)
Here at Vassar, we have a computing cluster named “Junior” that was built in 2010. Junior has been used by many faculty and students over the years to run countless analyses and simulations for coursework and research in the Sciences and Humanities. The big advantage of using a system like Junior is that it has what’s called a job scheduler program installed. In Junior’s case, the scheduler program is called SLURM. Slurm enables users to submit the code or analysis that they want to run, and then the system will automatically load the required packages and software to complete the job, and output it into a user-specified format. This means that a user can submit a job that might take the system several days to finish, and then go and work on something else while awaiting the results, confident that work is being performed by the automated processes on the computer the whole time.

HPC at Vassar (off-campus/remote)
Here at Vassar, we have access to off-campus HPC resources as well:

  1. Through an agreement with the NSF-supported XSEDE system (The Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment), Vassar researchers are able to apply for computing allocations on a variety of cluster environments that provide abundant libraries of packages, software, compilers, and user interfaces. The best part – It’s completely 100% free for Vassar! Your tax dollars are hard at work creating and maintaining this extensive network of HPC resources for use by all researchers.
  2. Vassar has an agreement with Amazon Web Services (or AWS) to provide for Virtual computing environments hosted in Amazon’s many data centers around the country. While we do pay by the hour for resources through AWS, the scalability and versatility afforded to us through this system are incredibly useful. Computing environments can be built and made accessible to the end-user very quickly and easily by administrators on campus. 
  3. We are exploring additional resources such as Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, products from IBM, and partnerships with other colleges and universities with more robust computing infrastructure. We are also looking into avenues for the upgrade and/or replacement of Junior.

HPC Projects & Initiatives at Vassar
Many faculty at Vassar have been involved in using HPC in the course of their research and teaching. Courses and projects in BiologyChemistryCognitive Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics & Astronomy all make use of Junior and other HPC resources for course work and projects.

Just a few of the specific HPC projects underway or already completed include:

  • Chemistry Molecular research by Franco Caruso and Miriam Rossi which utilized Materials Studio in a cluster environment and has resulted in the publication of two successful journal submissions with a third in progress.
  • Biology research on viruses and bacteria using QIIME and other genetic analysis tools on both the local cluster and in AWS by David Esteban.
  • Deep learning research and course work using GPU-enhanced computational systems in the cloud by Joshua de Leeuw
  • Computational Quantum Chemistry research by Leah I. Bendavid on XSEDE.

Find out More!
If you’re interested in learning more about HPC, or getting in touch with other people at Vassar who are using HPC resources, please email Chris Gahn, the ACS Consultant for the Sciences.

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