Stony Brook University’s Institute for Advanced Computational Science (IACS) was given $6.3MM in an anonymous donation for the advancement of data-driven research, according to a statement released by the school on August 15th.

 

Research out of the IACS will help to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems including climate change, machine learning and next generation nuclear energy.

 

According to the statement, advanced computational science “accelerates the speed of calculations, allowing researchers to process data and develop conclusions beyond the scope of what was previously possible.”

 

Michael A. Bernstein, Interim President of Stony Brook University said that the generous donation will propel IACS researchers to “redefine the boundaries of advanced computational science.” 

 

With this donation, the IACS says it will hire additional staff, extend the Institute’s STRIDE program to all students and serve as seed money for engagement initiatives.

 

Multidisciplinary research will also be expanded in pursuit of the following themes:

 

• Machine Learning and Statistical Inference for Scientific Discovery
• Modeling, Simulation and Analysis of Complex Systems
• High-Performance Computing and Future Computing Technologies
• Making Sense of Data

 

​“Whether modeling climate change, the inner workings of the human brain, or nuclear energies, our future is dependent on supercomputing and big data,” said Robert Harrison, PhD director of the IACS. “Research data has the powerful ability to evolve our perspectives and where new ideas emerge, innovation follows.”

 

The IACS has 13 faculty staff in a variety of specialties, including chemistry, materials by design, condensed matter, astrophysics, atmospheric science, linguistics, nano-science, sociology, applied mathematics, and computer science. There are an additional 40 faculty members affiliated with the institute from other departments.

 

The institute began with a $10 million anonymous donation plus matching funds of equal value from the Simons Foundation that enabled Stony Brook University to establish the IACS.