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Title: National resource for computation in chemistry, phase I: evaluation and recommendations

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5346767

The National Resource for Computation in Chemistry (NRCC) was inaugurated at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) in October 1977, with joint funding by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The chief activities of the NRCC include: assembling a staff of eight postdoctoral computational chemists, establishing an office complex at LBL, purchasing a midi-computer and graphics display system, administering grants of computer time, conducting nine workshops in selected areas of computational chemistry, compiling a library of computer programs with adaptations and improvements, initiating a software distribution system, providing user assistance and consultation on request. This report presents assessments and recommendations of an Ad Hoc Review Committee appointed by the DOE and NSF in January 1980. The recommendations are that NRCC should: (1) not fund grants for computing time or research but leave that to the relevant agencies, (2) continue the Workshop Program in a mode similar to Phase I, (3) abandon in-house program development and establish instead a competitive external postdoctoral program in chemistry software development administered by the Policy Board and Director, and (4) not attempt a software distribution system (leaving that function to the QCPE). Furthermore, (5) DOE should continue to make its computational facilities available to outside users (at normal cost rates) and should find some way to allow the chemical community to gain occasional access to a CRAY-level computer.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
5346767
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM-7294
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English