The 12th Latin America High Performance Computing Conference (CARLA 2025) was successfully held in Kingston, Jamaica, from September 22 to 26, marking a historic occasion as the first time this conference was hosted on the island. The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, proudly served as one of five organizations supporting the conference, which brought together regional and international leaders in high-performance computing (HPC).
Staff from The UWI Mona played key roles on the organizing committee, serving as Local Chair, Registration Chair, Tutorial Chair, Poster Chair, and providing essential administrative support. Students from the campus also contributed as volunteers, gaining valuable exposure and hands-on experience in the HPC field.
UWI’s academic presence at CARLA 2025 was equally impactful. Professor Gunjan Mansingh participated in a panel discussion, offering insights on the transformative role of HPC in research and innovation across the region. Dr. Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot delivered a presentation showcasing UWI's active involvement in HPC development. Professor Tannecia Stephenson also addressed the conference, speaking on UWI’s use of its SPARKS computer—the only high-performance computing node in Jamaica. Notably, SPARKS was featured in a recent UNESCO report, highlighting its significance in advancing the country’s scientific and technological capabilities.
In addition to its participation in the main conference, UWI continued to build local capacity in HPC. Three staff members took part in a specialized workshop on DevOps School for HPC, aimed at strengthening Jamaica’s technical expertise. Leading up to the conference, the Department of Computing hosted a three-day HPC training camp in the Faculty Cluster Lab, designed to equip students with practical skills in using HPC to solve complex computational problems. The camp was led by members of the CARLA academic community, committed to growing HPC access and expertise throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
The successful hosting of CARLA 2025 in Jamaica represents a major step forward for HPC awareness and infrastructure in the region. It is hoped that the conference will inspire the formation of a dedicated HPC community in Jamaica and foster greater collaboration and innovation. The Faculty of Science and Technology at The UWI Mona remains committed to leading this charge through continued investment in people, research, and international partnerships.
CARLA is an international conference aimed at providing a forum to foster the growth and strength of the High Performance Computing (HPC) community in Latin America and beyond. The conference serves as a platform for new ideas, techniques, and research in HPC and its applications areas. Started in 2014, CARLA has become the flagship conference for HPC in the region.
Photo caption: Participants at Carla Conference 2025.
