About Us

The Evolving Vision of Illinois Computes

First and foremost, simplicity is essential. Whether it’s hard to find available resources, hard to understand how to access them, hard to know whom to ask for help, or hard to use the tools once provided, the challenges are pervasive.  Addressing these challenges is a central focus of Illinois Computes.

Second, there are gaps in the awareness among many researchers of how to use computing technology to enhance and accelerate their research. Illinois Computes strives to build greater awareness and foster a community around the use of AI and other computing technologies in research across a broader array of fields.

Third, our offerings need to evolve to meet the diverse needs of researchers across all disciplines. We aim to diversify our offerings to make cutting-edge technologies more approachable and useful to a wider range of researchers.

This evolution of what Illinois Computes offers, and how it offers it, will not come at the expense of the traditional resources many researchers still rely on. Illinois Computes will continue to support the growing demand for traditional computing resources, while ensuring adequate capacity for emerging needs, such as secure computing.

We also recognize the continued and growing importance of expert support to help researchers navigate this evolving landscape. Illinois Computes is part of a campus effort to build a more cohesive support ecosystem that connects researchers with needed expertise without requiring them to navigate the complexities of our diverse campus infrastructure on their own.

Our mission is to ensure that every researcher on campus, regardless of discipline, domain or computing experience, has access to computing technology and support to advance their work. The evolving vision for Illinois Computes is squarely focused on this mission.

I encourage you to explore the resources we have available and let us know what additional tools and support you need. Together, we can continue to push the boundaries of research excellence at Illinois!

Illinois Computes is for you. All researchers across campus can leverage our resources and consulting services – economists and environmental scientists, artists and veterinarians, physicists and political scientists, and all the many others at our diverse institution. We support everyone in utilizing computing to accelerate their research. Come talk with us about how we can assist you with your research!

Chuck Thompson, Director of Illinois Computes