Women in HPC Workshop

WHPC: Broadening Participation and Leadership in HPC

Join us for an inspiring workshop on High-Performance Computing (HPC) for women, underrepresented groups in STEM, and allies around the topic of Broadening Participation and Leadership in HPC. The workshop is organized by the Latin American Women in HPC chapter. This space brings together people passionate about HPC and related fields,whether from academia or industry, to connect, collaborate, and gain visibility.

The workshop will spotlight initiatives that foster the participation of underrepresented groups in STEM and the contributions of women in HPC through a panel featuring experts from diverse backgrounds. It aims to spark dialogue on how HPC and AI are transforming both research and industry, while fostering meaningful networking among students, professionals, and researchers.

In an industry where the pipeline for women remains “leaky,” with attrition rates disproportionately high, this workshop seeks to address these challenges head-on. By creating a supportive and inclusive space and community, we strive to empower attendees to thrive in the field of HPC and AI, whether in academia or industry.

Participation is free, and walk-ins are welcome. Join us to advance excellence and broaden participation and leadership in High-Performance Computing.

AGENDA

Date: September 23, 2025
Duration: Half day workshop, 2-6 pm

14:00 – 10’: Welcome. Paola Buitrago, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center.
14:10 – 25’: Dr. Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot – Department of Chemistry, The University of West Indies
14:35 – 25’: Lau Alvarez. Amazon Web Services (online). 
15:00 – 15’: Eleanor Broadway, WHPC (online).
15:25 – 35’: Panel Discussion: Broadening Participation and Leadership in HPC

• Panelists:
  • Ricardo Baeza. KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
  • Carmen Heras. Universidad de Sonora, Mexico.
  • Dr. Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot. The University of West Indies, Jamaica.
  • Carla Osthoff. National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC), Brasil
  • Yanique Rodgers. Scientific Research Council, Jamaica.
  • Vanesa Williams. Sagicor Group Jamaica.
• Moderator: Paola Buitrago, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, Carnegie Mellon University

16:00 – 30’: Coffee Break
16:30 – 25’: Dr. Gunjan Mansingh – The Department of Computing, The University of West Indies
16:55 – 25’: Ricardo Baeza. Barcelona Supercomputing Center, BSC AI Institute.
17:20 – 35’: Tutorial on PSC’s Neocortex – Cerebras AI chips 

17:55 – 05’: Closing Remarks – Paola Buitrago, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center

CHAIRS

• 🇨🇴 Paola A. Buitrago, Director AI and Big Data, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, Carnegie Mellon University
• 🇧🇷 Carla Ostohoff, National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC), Brazil
• 🇧🇷 Aletéia Araújo, University of Brasilia, Brazil
• 🇨🇴 Gina Paola Maestre Góngora, Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia
• 🇦🇷 Paula Verghelet, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
• 🇲🇽 Lizette Robles Duenas, Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico
• 🇨🇱 Tania Altamirano, RedCLARA

ABOUT LA-WHPC

Women in High Performance Computing (WHPC) encourages women to actively participate in the HPC community by fostering education, support, and collaboration. It connects women in HPC and technical computing while raising the visibility of role models. WHPC is stewarded by EPCC at the University of Edinburgh. 

Learn more: https://womeninhpc.org/

Latin American Women in High Performance Computing (LA-WHPC) is a regional chapter composed of researchers, professionals, students, and industry leaders committed to strengthening the participation and leadership of women in the HPC ecosystem in Latin America. This initiative fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, promotes gender equity, and advances scientific and technological excellence through mentoring, training, and international visibility across all areas of supercomputing.

Learn more: https://lawhpc.org/