How the WHPC Travel Fellowship Reworked my ISC Expertise

Author: Sarah Johnston

One yr in the past, I used to be nervously hovering over the submit button on the ISC webpage attempting to get the arrogance to share my work within the hopes of attending ISC for the very first time. Little did I do know at the moment that that straightforward resolution would open up an unimaginable world of alternatives, folks, and experiences that may present me how ‘super’ supercomputing actually is.

As a scholar, presenting work is each scary and great, however presenting with WHPC was a implausible expertise all through. The WHPC poster scheme isn’t just concerning the piece of paper on the board, however its additionally about growing your expertise and gaining expertise in presenting complicated technical concepts to folks from all types of HPC backgrounds.

From the very starting, you get provided the chance to be mentored by a HPC skilled who may also help you make your poster presentation worthy and can advise you on learn how to give the very best lighting speak to go alongside it. I used to be fortunate sufficient to be partnered with the great Katerine, who guided me by way of creating eye-catching visuals for my poster and practised my flash speak with me again and again (and over!) once more till I felt like a easy skilled delivering it. All the WHPC poster presenters had the possibility to return collectively in a web-based webinar to practise our talks and get suggestions from different presenters and mentors forward of the convention itself.

I used to be extremely fortunate to even be a WHPC Travel Fellow for ISC25, which offered me with a complete host of additional implausible alternatives. Not solely did I get the unimaginable monetary help to have the ability to attend the convention itself – which as a PhD is so essential in me accessing these alternatives I couldn’t in any other case afford – however I bought some wonderful possibilities to actually take advantage of the ISC expertise. Delivering a Tech Talk on the Solutions Forum Theatre as a part of the opening night time of the Exhibition was extremely thrilling, and seeing the quantity of people that stopped by to listen to me speak actually bought me enthusiastic to take advantage of my time on the convention. Presenting alongside the opposite wonderful audio system, surrounded by all of the exhibitors (and loads of good meals!) felt like a surreal daydream and it will not have been potential with out the Travel Fellowship. I additionally had the chance to take part in interviews with a number of the media companions and discuss my journey into HPC and the analysis I do.

ISC actually is a convention like no different – however there was no higher feeling than collapsing into mattress on the finish of every day with aching ft however a mind buzzing with concepts and pleasure. Attending actually cemented for me that HPC is the place I wish to be working. I made so many unimaginable connections and recollections which have impressed me to work even tougher to get to maintain on being a part of this wonderful neighborhood.

So if you’re like I used to be final yr, hovering over that submit button questioning if you happen to ought to give submitting a poster a go then all I can say is to do it – you by no means know the place you’ll be a yr from now!

WHPC Poster Submissions for ISC 2026 are open now. WHPC’s ISC Travel Fellowships might be awarded to chose Poster Session individuals. Travel Fellowships embrace as much as £3000 of reimbursable journey bills and alternatives to current at WHPC ISC occasions. The poster submission deadline is January twenty second 2026 11:59 AoE.