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The CERN Schools of computing in a nutshell
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Since the early seventies CERN has organized every year the
CERN School of Computing (CSC), in one of the CERN Member States. CERN Schools
of Computing, usually held in August/September, are open to postgraduate
students and research workers with a few years of experience in elementary
particle physics, in computing or in related fields. The participants come
mainly from the CERN Member States or from laboratories in countries associated
with CERN. However, a fraction of the students come from outside the particle
physics community, generally attracted by the advanced topics that are taught.
Attendance ranges from 70 to 80 students, typically of 15 to 25 different
nationalities.
The schools last two weeks, and are generally organized
on the campus of a university or in a hotel with close networking connections to
a university or laboratory.
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CSC in a nutshell leaflet (PDF
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Theory and practice, advanced environment
The two-week programme of the CSC series comprises
lecture series and hand-on exercises.
The hands-on part is a central component of the school,
and is often structured in the form of projects to be carried out by groups of
students. To this end, a complete computing infrastructure has to be created on
the site of the school. As the themes usually focus on the most advanced
topics, hands-on projects usually require modern software and hardware settings
at the forefront of technology. One outcome of the school is therefore to leave
at the end of the school, an advance technical environment, which may benefit
the local university or institute. This is exemplified with the creation, in the
local university or institute, of a GRID system, connected to the European
DataGrid infrastructure.
Optional
examination and certificate
An optional examination is organized at the end of the
school and formal certificates of proficiency are delivered by CERN in case of
success. This may be used by some students also engaged in university curricula
for obtaining credits.
General Objectives of the CERN Schools of Computing
CERN organizes the CERN Schools of Computing with two
major and complementary objectives:
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To train
both theoretically and practically, young engineers and scientists from
physics institutes collaborating in the CERN programme on the advanced
technologies required to meet the very specific challenges that CERN is
facing in computing, and which are generally not part of regular academic
curricula (e.g. practical Grid technology, large scale software
development and engineering).
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Beyond the
particle physics community, to transfer to academic, institutional and
industrial circles in Member States and other countries, CERN skills and
know-how in computing and ICT. These skills and know-how, though developed
for the needs of the particle physics community, find direct or potential
applications in all spheres of the society (as exemplified with the Web,
developed by CERN and now, the Grid).
Format of the
Schools
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Attendance |
The Schools are attended by up to 80
participants, with the typical following distribution:
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Duration |
Students come from a wide range of
countries (59 different nationalities over the past 10 years). About 80% of the
students come from European Union countries.
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Content:
Theory and
Practice
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The CSCs last two consecutive weeks
(usually early September)
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Technical setting |
The school comprises series of ex-cathedra
lectures, and hands-on exercise sessions. The total amount of hours is
typically in the order of 50, generally equally divided between lectures and
practical work.
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Optional examination |
For the practical work, students are usually
organized in pairs. At least one full computing environment is made available
for any pair of student.
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