An Exclusive Interview with Professor Torsten Hoefle by Mohammad Kawsar Uddin
As Bangladesh continues its journey toward digital transformation and scientific advancement, high-performance computing (HPC) is emerging as a key driver of progress in sectors such as healthcare, climate prediction, disaster preparedness, and urban development.
In this conversation, Professor Torsten Hoefler- a globally recognized expert in supercomputing, Professor of Computer Science at ETH Zurich, and recipient of the 2024 ACM Prize in Computing- shares his insights on the potential of HPC to catalyze development in Bangladesh.
Question: How can high-performance computing contribute to improvements in healthcare, climate prediction, and urban planning in Bangladesh?
Professor Hoefler: While I am not intimately familiar with the specific circumstances in Bangladesh, the deployment of high-performance computing infrastructure is certainly feasible, assuming there is sufficient local expertise to utilize it effectively. The presence of skilled human capital is fundamental, alongside the establishment of the necessary technological infrastructure. These two elements can be developed in parallel; however, where a qualified talent pool already exists, HPC can unequivocally serve as a powerful catalyst for advancing healthcare, climate modeling, and urban planning initiatives.
Question: To what extent can HPC and large-scale simulations enhance Bangladesh’s preparedness for floods and cyclones?
Professor Hoefler: Enhanced regional weather forecasting- whether through refined numerical models or AI-driven approaches- can significantly increase lead times and reduce forecasting errors. This capability can substantially improve disaster preparedness and response. Regional cooperation is often advantageous in this domain. Collaborations with neighboring countries can enable shared investments in computational infrastructure and facilitate the recruitment and retention of specialized expertise.
Question: What advice would you offer to Bangladeshi researchers seeking to cultivate world-class skills in HPC and computational science?
Professor Hoefler: I would recommend a dual strategy: learning from international research communities and contributing actively to local scientific endeavors. Such reciprocal collaboration tends to accelerate progress. For individual researchers, it is critical to develop deep expertise within a focused area to maximize impact. Furthermore, forming well-structured teams with complementary skill sets is essential to achieving significant scientific breakthroughs.
Question: In your view, what is the most transformative impact that HPC could have on everyday life in Bangladesh over the next decade?
Professor Hoefler: Although I am not personally acquainted with the nuances of daily life in Bangladesh, broadly speaking, high-performance computing holds the potential to significantly enhance public services. These include improved regional and extreme weather forecasting, healthcare delivery, and strategic planning in transportation and logistics. Such improvements facilitate more informed decision-making and yield better societal outcomes. Moreover, HPC forms the foundation for the advancement of artificial intelligence, which increasingly plays a vital role in driving innovation and supporting human development worldwide.
