Workshops Archive

Experience and Outcomes Organizing a Hackathon in the Physical Sciences

Workshop: 12th SC Workshop on Best Practices for HPC Training and Education

Authors: Aaron Jezghani (Georgia Institute of Technology, The Nab Collaboration) and Jason Fry (Eastern Kentucky University, The Nab Collaboration)

Abstract: Despite its growing importance in physical sciences, research computing with cluster resources remains difficult to access and sustain, especially in long-term, multi-institutional projects. Challenges include site-specific workflows, evolving software stacks, and rapid changes in hardware post-Generative AI. The Nab collaboration, conducting a precision test of the Standard Model at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, hosted a hackathon to address these issues. Over four half-days, ~25 participants engaged in training and collaborative problem-solving across four priority areas, supported by mentors and structured sessions. Post-event surveys showed improved computational knowledge and strong interest in recurring events. This paper shares insights from organizing the hackathon and discusses scalable strategies for computational training in experimental research.

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