N.M. Teachers Accept "Supercomputing Challenge"

by George Zamora

SOCORRO, N.M., June 21, 2001 -- Several high school and middle school teachers from around New Mexico have accepted the "supercomputing challenge" and are now busy developing their computational science skills at a two-week-long instructional workshop on supercomputing, currently being held at New Mexico Tech.

More than 20 teachers are attending the 2001 Summer Teacher Institute (STI), which is held each summer in support of the annual New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge for high school and middle school students.

This year's STI is sponsored in large part by New Mexico Tech, NASA Ames Research Center, and Tennessee State University. Other sponsors include New Mexico Technet, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Compaq, Siemans, and the Mexican American Engineering Society (MAES).

By attending a variety of classes covering core components of computational science, such as project development, programming, mathematical modeling, and Internet resources, STI participants learn how to sponsor a New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge team and how to help other students involved with computational science projects at their respective schools.

During the two-week program, participants also are tasked with creating and formally presenting their own supercomputing project before a panel of judges.

After successfully completing the summer workshop on supercomputing, participating teachers are eligible to receive three graduate credits through New Mexico Tech's Master of Science Teaching program.

For more information about the STI or the New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge, visit the organization's website at www.challenge.nm.org.