Morgantown, WV – Programmers looking to boost their skills in high-performance computing have a free opportunity coming up next month. West Virginia University (WVU) will host a site for the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center’s one-day workshop, “Shared Memory Programming Using OpenMP,” on March 11th. The workshop aims to provide C and Fortran programmers with a practical introduction to OpenMP, a widely used API for parallel programming.
OpenMP is particularly valuable for developers working on applications that demand significant processing power, allowing them to leverage multi-core processors more effectively. Attendees will gain a working knowledge of how to write scalable codes using OpenMP, a skill increasingly in demand across scientific computing, data analysis, and engineering fields. The workshop is designed to be hands-on, offering participants the chance to apply what they learn in a practical setting. This Shared Memory Programming Using OpenMP workshop is presented using the Wide Area Classroom (WAC) training platform.
Workshop Details and Registration
The workshop will run from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on March 11th and will be held in Room 104 at the Downtown Library on WVU’s campus. Importantly, this will be an in-person event, with no direct-to-desktop option available. The Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center is pleased to announce this opportunity for programmers to enhance their skills. Registration is required, and it’s free to attend. Though, prospective attendees should be aware that some students have reported difficulties with the new registration system.
To avoid issues, organizers recommend logging into the ACCESS site prior to attempting to register and carefully following the directions on the registration page. ACCESS is a platform providing access to advanced computing resources, and an ACCESS ID is required for registration. If you do not currently have an ACCESS ID, you can create one here.
What is OpenMP and Why Does it Matter?
OpenMP simplifies the complexities of parallel programming, allowing developers to create multi-threaded applications with relative ease. Instead of rewriting code from scratch to take advantage of multiple cores, OpenMP provides a set of directives that can be added to existing C and Fortran code to parallelize specific sections. This can lead to significant performance improvements, especially for computationally intensive tasks. Understanding shared memory programming is becoming increasingly crucial as the demand for faster and more efficient computing continues to grow.
The workshop is intended for those with existing knowledge of C or Fortran. Participants will learn how to identify sections of code that can be parallelized, how to use OpenMP directives to achieve parallelism, and how to optimize their code for performance. The goal is to equip attendees with the skills to write scalable codes that can effectively utilize the power of modern multi-core processors.
Previous Workshops and Accessibility
This isn’t the first time the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center has offered this workshop. A similar event was held on February 19, 2025, and was also presented using the Wide Area Classroom (WAC) training platform. Details of the 2025 workshop are still available online. The WAC platform facilitates the delivery of training to multiple satellite sites simultaneously, expanding access to valuable skills development opportunities.
In 2025, the workshop was hosted at several locations including the University of Arizona, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Utah. The WVU site is one of several locations hosting the event in 2026, making it accessible to a wider range of programmers in the region. The event is an excellent opportunity to learn in-demand skills from experienced educators.
Registration questions should be directed to Tom Maiden at tmaiden [at] psc.edu (tmaiden[at]psc[dot]edu).
The next step for interested programmers is to register for the workshop through the ACCESS site. The deadline for registration is not explicitly stated, but early registration is encouraged to secure a spot. Further details regarding the classroom location and logistics will be provided to registered attendees.
Perceive free to share this information with colleagues and friends who might benefit from this free training opportunity. We encourage comments and discussion about the importance of high-performance computing skills in today’s technology landscape.
