HPC Insights from SCA/HPCAsia 2026
Source: Own illustration
The SupercomputingAsia (SCA) is the largest conference in the field of high-performance computing (HPC) for the global supercomputing community in Asia. This year, the SCA was jointly hosted with the International Conference on High Performance Computing in the Asia-Pacific Region (HPCAsia) in Osaka, Japan. More than 2,500 participants from 45 countries and regions attended SCA/HPCAsia 2026 to discuss current research results, technological developments, and future trends in supercomputing. Keynote speakers highlighted important developments for the convergence of HPC, AI, and Quantum Computing.
The IT Center was represented by three participants, who exchanged ideas with international experts and made strong contributions to the conference’s workshops by presenting current research results on HPC & AI and energy efficiency.
A New Generation of Phishing: Why Potentially Harmful Emails Get Past the Spam Filter
Source: Own illustration
RWTH has a robust email security infrastructure: efficient spam filters and reliable protection mechanisms ensure that large volumes of unwanted messages never even reach our inboxes. Nevertheless, spam and phishing emails have increasingly been finding their way into personal and work RWTH inboxes as “undetected” messages. So, what mechanisms cause even the most reliable spam filters to fail to intercept every suspicious message?
Ten Years of ISO Certification for the IT-ServiceDesk
Source: Own illustration
Ten years ago, the Service & Communication department of the IT Center reached an important milestone: On May 23, 2016, the then IT-ServiceDesk received its initial certification under DIN EN ISO 9001:2015—and has been certified without interruption ever since. The department can thus look back on a decade of continuous quality management and successful development.
Communication Options in RWTHmoodle
Source: Own illustration
Whether it’s a last-minute change of schedule, information about exams, or uploading important materials — there are many reasons why course room managers want to contact their students.
RWTHmoodle offers two options for this: announcements and quickmail. In this blog post, we explain the differences between the two functions and how they can be used.
The 9th Moodle Community Meeting
Source: Own illustration
On May 7, nearly 100 participants from North Rhine-Westphalia and other regions gathered virtually for the Moodle Community Meeting to discuss topics related to Moodle. Twice a year, the Moodle.NRW Competence Center hosts a community meeting. Not only are interested parties from North Rhine-Westphalia welcome, but also anyone else from German-speaking countries who works with Moodle. Moodle.NRW is part of the Network Moodle at Universities e. V. RWTH is a member of the association and participates in various projects related to Moodle.
Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2026
Source: Own Illustration
Digital technologies have become an integral part of our daily lives – whether in academia, research, or the workplace. However, not everyone is able to use digital services equally. This is precisely where the issue of digital accessibility comes into play. An important occasion to raise awareness of this issue is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), which takes place this year on May 21, 2026.
Year 2038 and Year 2036 Problem: No Threat to RWTH IT Systems
Source: Own illustration
Regularly, so-called “time-related issues” arise in IT. These involve technical limitations in the processing of date and time data. In addition to the well-known Year 2000 problem, the Year 2036 problem and the Year 2038 problem are currently the subject of particular discussion. This post provides a brief overview of both topics and explains why there is no risk to the IT systems at RWTH Aachen University.
Bluetooth – Convenience With Security Risks
Source: Freepik
Bluetooth is an essential part of our modern everyday lives. Whether it’s wireless headphones in the office, a mouse and keyboard on a laptop, a smartwatch on your wrist or fast data exchange between two devices, the technology is always there to help us get ahead. Wireless technology helps to significantly improve the conditions for mobile working and learning. However, security gaps are a relevant issue both in everyday working life, where sensitive data is handled, and in everyday student life.
New RWTHapp Feature: Your Battery Data for Research
Source: Own illustration
The Chair of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Systems (ISEA) led by Professor Dirk Uwe Sauer is investigating, among other things, the question: How long does a smartphone battery last in real-world university life, and how does it age in the process?
In collaboration with the RWTHapp, you can now share battery data from your Android device and help the department better understand batteries and make them last longer.
The IT Center at the SIGUCCS Annual Conference 2026
Source: SIGUCCS Website
From April 12 to 15, 2026, the annual conference of the ACM Special Interest Group on University and College Computing Services (SIGUCCS) took place in Philadelphia. For many years, the event has brought together IT experts from universities worldwide to exchange ideas on developments in IT services, support structures, and the use of new technologies. In addition to traditional presentations, the program also includes workshops, panels, and interactive formats designed to foster professional exchange. The IT Center was also represented this year with two presentations.
