Instructor Notes
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Why sustainable digital research matters
Instructor Note
To make the audience reflect a little bit before diving into the content, run a poll with the following questions:
- What do you think the main contributors are to the emissions of
digital research? Multiple choice or open question, depending on how
close we want answers to be. If a multiple choice question, the options
could be:
- Manufacture of physical devices (laptops, servers, etc)
- Running jobs in high performance computing facilities
- Developing and running software locally in laptops and workstations
- Using AI to assist research and everyday tasks
- Using cloud resources (cloud storage, continuous integration services, etc)
- What comes to mind when thinking about mindful computing? Open question.
Energy, power and carbon
Digital research activities with sustainability issues
Instructor Note
Depending on the size of the group and their engagement, the following challenge can also be done collectively as a class:
- Participants go in turns suggesting items, and the instructor writes them in a whiteboard
- Participants write items in post-its and then stick them on a wall
Both options can be done for remote delivery of the course, using digital whiteboards. Finally, the instructor comments on the results.
Introduction to the Case Studies
Instructor Note
Depending on the setting, the groups and the case study for each group might have been pre-assigned. If so, inform the participands accordingly, otherwise it will make sense to let them choose whatever group they want. Working on a topic that feels familiar will make them get the most of the activity, as they can learn specific things that day can apply to their daily work.
Ideally, each group should count with the support of a helper, available to ask questions and to guide them if they get stuck in any of the challenges.
Case Study 1 - Research Software Engineer
Case Study 2 - Lab Scientist doing computational work
Instructor Note
The analysis section is split into two parts:
Have attendees complete the “Emissions from Emma’s current workflow” challenge. This is best done in groups. Have attendees report back on what they’ve come up with.
Then have attendees open the spoiler tag - “Emma’s estimates”. This section provides the “canonical” outcome of Emma’s emissions estimates and further develops the scenario so that reductions in emissions can be considered. Recommend that the groups from above look through the section together and complete the embedded challenge.
Instructor Note
Similarly to above, the below challenge can be tackled collectively and attendees can report back on their results.
The following spoiler section then rounds out the scenario and provides a “canonical” outcome. Suggest that the below “outcomes” section is delivered to all attendees.
Case Study 3 - HPC User
Instructor Note
Delivery of the rest of this material is intended to go in two phases:
Attendees are expected to complete the “Estimating Emissions” challenge. This is best done in groups. After the group task, attendees can report back on what they’ve come up with.
Then attendees can open the spoiler tag - “Hugh’s estimates”. This section provides the “canonical” outcome of Hugh’s emissions estimates and further develops the scenario so that reductions in emissions can be considered. It is recommended that the groups from above look through the section together and complete the embedded challenge.
Instructor Note
Similarly to above, the below challenge can be tackled collectively and attendees can report back on their results.
The following spoiler section then rounds out the scenario and provides a “canonical” outcome. Suggest that the below “outcomes” section is delivered to all attendees.
Case Study 4 - GPU Computing User
Summary
Instructor Note
Depending on time this final exercise can be run within the session, in groups or individually and attendees invited to feedback. If short on time it can be given as a takeaway.
The exercise is deliberately open-ended to let attendees approach it however they see fit.