Energy Aware Computing (EACO)
Conveners
Dr Kerstin Eder, Senior Lecturer, Microelectronics Research Group, Department of Computer Science
Prof David May, Professor of Computer Science, Microelectronics Research Group
Energy efficiency is now a major (if not the major) concern in electronic systems engineering. Traditionally, researchers and engineers work within one or perhaps two layers of the system stack with very limited overlap, e.g. software engineers, computer architects or hardware designers. However, energy-aware computing is a challenge that requires investigating the entire system stack from application software and algorithms, via programming languages, compilers, instruction sets and micro architectures, down to the design and manufacture of the hardware, or alternatively bottom up. This is because energy is consumed by the hardware performing computations, but the control over the computation ultimately lies within the software and algorithms running on the hardware. It has recently become clear that, while hardware can be designed to save a modest amount of energy, the potential for savings is far greater at the higher levels of abstraction in the system stack. The greatest savings are expected from energy-consumption-aware software. Hence, addressing the challenge of energy-aware computing requires collaboration between researchers from all the above named areas and a good understanding of the applications that will drive software and hardware development in the future.
The current activities on energy efficient computing within the Microelectronics research group already cover almost all layers related to microelectronics in the traditional system stack. This is a unique strength of the Microelectronics research group at Bristol and puts us into an excellent position to make significant advances by collaborating. However, we must reach out to the upper layers of the system stack, including algorithms and applications, ranging from pervasive computing in health care, via robotics to the large scale complex IT systems that enable cloud computing. We must understand the wider impact on sustainability and end-user behaviour, and also alternative models for energy efficient computation such as those inspired by biology.
This series of three workshops on Energy-Aware Computing brings together researchers with a common interest in pushing the boundaries of energy-aware computing. The aim of the workshop series is to develop a new research initiative on Energy-Aware Computing at the University of Bristol.
Workshop 1: “Energy-Aware Computing: Intellectual Challenges” 25 May 2011, 2-5pm, Room 4.01, Merchant Venturers Building
This half-day workshop brings together researchers with interests in energy-aware computing for initial round table discussions to identify intellectual challenges that can be developed into cross-disciplinary research collaborations
Workshop 2: “Energy-Aware Computing: Beyond the state of the art” 13-14 July 2011
This full day workshop (luchtime to lunchtime) provides a forum for formal presentations, discussions and networking.
Invited speakers include Prof Luis Ceze (University of Washington, Seattle, US) and Prof Peter Marwedel (Technical University Dortmund, Germany).
Workshop 3: “Energy-Aware Computing: "Alternative Models for Energy-Aware Computation" 19 October 2011, Cabot Room, The Hawthorns
This workshop brings together researchers and engineers with interests in energy-aware computing for discussions to identify intellectual challenges that can be developed into collaborative research projects. We strive to go significantly beyond the state of the art. Special focus of this workshop is on Alternative Models for Energy-Aware Computation with one session focused solely on Learning from Biology.
Workshop 4: 18 April 2012, Room 0.01 (KES) in The Systems Centre, Ground Floor, Merchant Venturers Building
Workshop 5: September/October 2012 (TBC)
For further information and to register your interest in attending these events, please contact Dr Kerstin Eder Kerstin.Eder@bristol.ac.uk or see the EACO webpage.