Call for collaborating host sites

Each of the selected collaborating host sites will be posted on the left sidebar for participants to see by July 15, 2018.

About the Machine Learning Institute

This institute is intended for people seeking to enhance their machine learning knowledge and skills with an emphasis on analyzing large data collections. Participants are expected to have familiarity with Linux, Python and multivariate calculus. There will be hands-on activities throughout the event.

The institute will also be webcast via YouTube live for anyone interested in watching. Support for web viewers will be rather limited, as the focus of support will be upon the participants at the host sites. Viewers will only be able to submit questions using YouTube Live Chat and via a Slack discussion forum, and there will be no "over-the-shoulder" support during hands-on activities. Due to security policies, webcast viewers will not be able to receive an account on the computing systems used during the institute.

Collaborating Host Sites

Collaborating host sites are expected to provide a critical support role by facilitating local people to come together, watch the presenters as a group, ask questions verbally of the presenters in real-time, and having a local person to assist with "over the shoulder" questions during hands-on activities.

Requirements / Recommendations

We ask that each collaborating host site:

• Accommodates at least 10 people in a single conference-capable room, but larger groups (e.g. 50 or more) are encouraged.

• Provides technical support for participants. We recommend at least one technical support person for every 10 – 15 local participants. These people will assist local participants with hands-on activities. The support staff need not be proficient with all topics to be covered, but should have familiarity with Linux, Python, multivariate calculus, and preferably some knowledge of machine learning tools and methods.

• Coordinates with A/V testing with specialists at NCSA to ensure good audio and video connections. We are open to supporting a wide range of technology solutions including but not limited to traditional H.323/SIP endpoints, as well as cloud-based services like WebEx. When applying, please indicate the platform(s) you support so that we can determine audio/video interoperability.

• Helps recruit local participants to attend the event at your site - we will provide a generic announcement you can tailor for your site.

• Provides reports on daily attendance to the organizing institutions.

• Covers all local costs and expenses.

Becoming a Collaborating Host Site

If your site would like to commit to be a host site, please submit a short application to Blue Waters Education, Outreach and Training team by Monday, July 2, 2018 for consideration. The application should include:

• The name of your organization or institution along with a URL
• Primary point(s) of contact for local coordination of the event — name, email, cell phone
• Primary point(s) of contact for A/V technical support — name, email, cell phone
• Maximum number of participants the site can host
• Address (including room number) of local site we may share with participants
• Number of HPC support people, a brief desrption of their knowledge, and their name, email and cell phone
• Description of A/V technology that will be used to connect to NCSA/University of Illinois
• Brief description of your plans to recruit local participants

Please direct questions to the Blue Waters Education, Outreach and Training team bw-eot@ncsa.illinois.edu at Blue Waters/NCSA.