Sanibel Symposium in the Petascale-Exascale Computational Era

The Sanibel Symposia, organized by the University of Florida's Quantum Theory Project, have a strong and vibrant tradition of advancing innovation in computational methods and software implementations to model and simulate materials and their molecular constituents. The Symposia are virtually unique in heavy priority on new simulation and modeling methods. There are no parallel sessions, and a balance of plenary talks and well-attended poster sessions. The organizers long have made a conscious effort to provide multiple opportunities for working discussions between younger researchers and leading authorities. The meeting name comes from the original site, Sanibel Island, FL.

Much of the leading research in this area is funded via DOE BES support in theoretical and computational chemistry and materials physics. Two of the PIs on this proposal (Cheng, Trickey) are currently funded in this way. In our discussions with many other DOE-funded researchers over the last 6 months, one major challenge repeatedly is identified: a severe decline in the number of young researchers who are learning method innovation and implementation. The contrast with young researchers who are simply users of existing methods is stark. In an effort to cultivate more method innovators, this proposal requests support for fee waivers for 30 Sanibel participants who are graduate students, post-doctoral associates or even under-graduate students with strong undergraduate thesis projects. The goal is to foster the growth of skill, interest, and to foster long-term involvement in computational chemistry and materials physics. Making the Symposium accessible at an early career stage does this by linking the younger researchers to the community in solidly professional way: serious discussions of forefront methods and implementations.

To help young researchers break into the field and be noticed, the format of the Symposium includes an original and still nearly unique approach to contributed papers. Each Poster Presenter gives a two-minute 'oral abstract' of her/his Poster. We limit the number of Posters in each session to roughly 20 and present the Posters in a very amiable, social atmosphere. It is commonplace for experts and graduate students to have Posters next to one another and to have animated small-group discussions in front of many Posters. We also recognize outstanding young investigators by a set of prizes. Details are on the web site, www.qtp.ufl.edu/sanibel.