Computing for Humanity is a Canadian nonprofit organization based in Ottawa that supports medical advancements and oncology research by providing researchers with access to high-performance computing (HPC) resources. Founded in 2015 by Roy Chartier, the organization addresses a critical barrier in medical research: limited access to adequate computing power necessary for complex data analysis and modeling. The charity's mission is to ensure that no scientific advancement for humanity is delayed due to a lack of computing time.

History and Mission

Computing for Humanity was originally known as Cancer Computer, reflecting its initial focus on supporting cancer research. Its founder, Roy Chartier, recognized the shortage of computing resources available to researchers during his graduate studies. Motivated to make a broader impact, Chartier established the organization to provide computing support not only for oncology but for a wide range of medical and life sciences research projects. The organization advocates a green computing model, emphasizing environmentally responsible use of donated servers and computing hardware.

Activities and Impact

The nonprofit collaborates with a network of 21 universities and 3 research centers across Canada to advance best practices in big data management, computational modeling, structural biology, simulations, image visualization, and artificial intelligence (AI) modeling in medical research. Computing for Humanity supplies hardware, user support, and technical assistance to enable research teams to focus on scientific breakthroughs without being hindered by technological limitations.

The organization also offers large-scale data storage solutions, providing hundreds of terabytes of storage capacity to researchers for securing their valuable data over the long term. Its servers are uniquely named to honor loved ones affected by illness and disease, symbolizing the human impact behind the research efforts.

Partnerships and Outreach

Computing for Humanity partners with initiatives such as the World Community Grid to support both national and international research projects aimed at improving human health outcomes. The organization invites contributions from individuals and institutions in the form of financial donations, volunteer time, and server donations to expand its capacity and reach.

Vision

The overarching goal of Computing for Humanity is to accelerate scientific discovery and promote collaboration among the global research community by removing barriers to access to HPC resources. By doing so, it seeks to support medical advancements that improve the human condition worldwide.

Business Registration Number: 821158524RR0001
Location: Ottawa, Canada

[1] https://www.computingforhumanity.com/our-story [2] https://www.computingforhumanity.com [3] https://www.computechforhumanity.org/mission.html [4] https://www.instagram.com/computing_for_humanity/reel/C_jV__RxTut/ [5] https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-introduces-ai-compute-access-fund-to-support-canadian-innovators-843081660.html