The new unit will promote collaborative research between scientists at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and BSC.
The aim is to promote the exchange of knowledge and resources in the field of geophysics and natural hazards.
The Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center - Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) have launched a new associated unit, called the Computational Geophysics Unit, which combines the expertise and resources of both institutions to carry out research in the field of geophysics and natural hazards.
The new unit will allow the research team of both institutions to share resources and knowledge, taking advantage of the supercomputing software and hardware tools available at the BSC, as well as the data provided by the CSIC to collaborate in interdisciplinary research projects related to geophysics. They will draw on the expertise in computer science, physics, mathematics and other disciplines of the participants in the unit.
Researchers Arnau Folch (CSIC) and Josep de la Puente (BSC) lead the recently launched Computational Geophysics Unit, through which they will be able to jointly apply for European research projects and work on topics of common interest such as the Destination Earth initiative or master's and doctoral programmes.
The BSC is a leading research centre in Europe in the field of supercomputing, while the CSIC is a world-renowned research institution with expertise in a wide range of scientific disciplines, so this collaboration can bring significant value to geophysical research.
"Bringing geoscience and massive computing together will allow innovative technologies to be applied to challenges associated with the complexity and magnitude of natural hazards of different kinds," said De la Puente.
The Computational Geophysics Unit was created in response to the synergies and collaborations that were already taking place between the scientific staff of both centres working on similar lines of research, although with different perspectives and resources. Thus, this associated unit represents a new stage in the collaboration between the CSIC and the BSC, and offers great potential for future research and advances in the field of geophysics.
"The creation of a strong research group at European level will allow us to provide joint services in the future," concluded Folch.