U.S. National Science Foundation Expedition in Computing

Photos with Captions


Photos with Captions




Rethinking computing infrastructure,
from semiconductors to datacenters,
for sustainable systems and artificial intelligence.

Harvard

Grand Challenge

Computing is at a moment of profound opportunity. Emerging applications drive unprecedented demand for computing yet, despite advances to achieve net zero carbon emissions, computing’s gross energy use continues to rise at an alarming rate, outpacing growth of carbon-free energy supply.

Harvard

Technical Approach

We will create transparent, accurate methods for carbon accounting. We will develop strategies for carbon-efficient system design, intelligent power management, and hardware life cycle management. We will deliver sustainable performance for artificial intelligence and virtual reality platforms.

Photos with Captions
Harvard

Broader Impacts

Our focus on sustainability may spark a transformation in how computer systems are manufactured, allocated, and consumed. Our methods for carbon accounting may influence energy policy. Our research will foster technical communities, training the next generation of innovators.

Harvard

Additional Reading

  • White Paper for NSF Expedition [2024]
  • Designing carbon aware datacenters [2023]
  • Reinforcement learning for sustainable energy systems [2023]
  • An architectural carbon modeling tool [2022]
  • Computing’s carbon footprint [2021]
  • Energy & policy for deep learning [2019]





People

Photos with Captions
David Brooks
David Brooks
Center Co-Director
Computer Architecture
Benjamin Lee
Benjamin Lee
Center Co-Director
Datacenter Systems
Photos with Captions
Arthur van Benthem
Arthur van Benthem
Energy Economics
Udit Gupta
Udit Gupta
Computer Architecture
Gage Hills
Gage Hills
Technology Foundations
Vincent Liu
Vincent Liu
Distributed Systems
Photos with Captions
Linh Phan
Linh Phan
Real-Time Systems
Benjamin Pierce
Benjamin Pierce
Programming Languages
Christopher Stewart
Christopher Stewart
Embedded Systems
Emma Strubell
Emma Strubell
Sustainable AI
Photos with Captions
Gu-Yeon Wei
Gu-Yeon Wei
Architecture & VLSI
Adam Wierman
Adam Wierman
Sustainable Systems
Yuan Yao
Yuan Yao
Industrial Ecology
Minlan Yu
Minlan Yu
Networked Systems