University of Southern Maine

News Releases

New USM Research Computing Group Successful Nationally and Internationally

May 16 , 2006

USM's best and brightest students with an interest in computers and research have joined forces with faculty and staff to form the new Research Computing Group (RCG). The group has access to state of the art computing equipment, technologies, and methodologies. And they are making their mark in Maine and around the nation, providing services both on campus and off.

Through hands-on learning and a multi-disciplinary approach, these students are contributing to the economic development of Maine using research and science at USM and beyond. They assist faculty with research, develop software applications, solve computer problems, and set up scientific equipment for research.

Directed by Glenn Wilson, associate research professor in USM's department of technology, the group currently consists of between 16 and 25 undergraduate and graduate students from diverse academic disciplines who are funded through federal work study, grants, and departmental funds.

"Our purpose," says Wilson, "is to expose these top students to world-class researchers, scholars, and artists, so they can contribute to business and society. They are trained at USM and are already productive helping outside organizations as well as university departments. RCG students are actively participating in research and computer projects nationally and internationally."

Wilson cites as examples: helping USM's Aquatic Systems Group and Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health create solutions using custom developed software; installing, configuring and maintaining computers and servers; and doing real-world and scientifically meaningful production. In one case, students are receiving raw data from national and international sources, modeling and interpreting it for their "client," and returning it as presentable, meaningful, real-world data. The Research Computing Group works with a diverse range of projects and faculty and acts a catalyst for interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary projects. This is exemplified by its collaboration with students and faculty from Art, GIS, and Computer Science in pushing the boundaries of how technology and art can interact to create new ways of understanding.

USM president Richard Pattenaude says, "As a comprehensive regional university, USM's Research Computing Group enables high level research across the board. Our goal for this select group is research, scholarship, and creative activities."

Note: for more information on USM's Research Computing Group, contact Professor Glenn Wilson at 207-780-5619, or Bob Caswell at USM's Public Affairs Office at 207-780-4200.

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