Next semester, the University will get a powerful new cloud supercomputer; a huge and exciting step change for research computing at Bath.
The new system will replace our ageing on-site high performance computing (HPC) system named Balena.
We need to find a suitable name for our new supercomputer - and this is where we need your help!
We are inviting all University staff and students to get creative and join the competition to name Bath's new supercomputer.
You can suggest any name
Submit your suggested name and a brief reason for your choice using our Teams Form (The deadline for submissions has now passed) . We don’t want to limit your creativity, so we are holding an open competition where you can suggest any name you like.
The Research Computing Group will select the top entries and put these to a popular vote.
So not only do you get to suggest a name, you will also get to have a say in what name wins the competition.
The winning entry will be awarded a £50 Amazon voucher.
Bath’s powerful new Microsoft Azure cloud
We are the first university worldwide to move all possible HPC research into Microsoft’s Azure cloud.
Our new cloud environment will give Bath researchers access to virtually limitless computational power to tackle larger research challenges in a fraction of the time normally required.
Balena, Isambard, Janus and Anatra
Research computing systems at Bath have had various names in the past. Our current high performance computer is called Balena, and previous research computing systems have been called Skein, Pauling, and Aquila.
Our new supercomputer will be by far the largest of Bath's three pillar research computing infrastracture which includes the new on-site Anatra HTC cluster, and the GW4 Isambard HPC service.
We have temporarily called the lightweight phase 1 HPC environment Janus. As we prepare for the launch of our new supercomputer in 2022, we ask for your help finding a permanent new name.
We can’t wait to get your suggestion and read your reason for choice of name.
Submit your name by 24 January
All University of Bath staff, hourly paid workers and students can take part in the naming competition. Only one suggestion per person is permitted.
Deadline for submissions is 24 January 2022 at 12pm (midday).
How the competition will run
After the submission deadline the Research Computing Group will select the top 10 entries. The Manager of the Research Computing Team can veto unsuitable names.
Everyone who submitted a name suggestion, all HPC users at Bath and all subscribers to the Research Computing newsletter will then get the opportunity to vote for the winning name.
The vote will be open from 1 - 18 February 2022 and we will email everyone eligible to vote details on selecting their top name on 1 February.
The name that receives the highest number of votes will win the naming competition.
If more than one person has suggested the winning name, the £50 Amazon voucher will be split between our winners.
We will reveal the name of Bath’s new cloud supercomputer at the next Research Computing Town Hall in mid March 2022, followed up by an University news announcement.
The name will also be announced in a University news article and the Research Computing newsletter.