U.S. Under Secretary of Energy, Dr. Ernie Moniz, will transmit the ceremonial first message over a high-speed fiber optic network as part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Mellon Institute building in Oakland on Thursday April 27. West Virginia University officials, through a video link, will also participate at the Virtual Environments Laboratory, Room 209 Engineering Research Building .

The high-speed network will link data and video communication between the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center’s Cray T3E , Carnegie Mellon University, WVU and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Center.

The Cray T3E is touted as the 20th fastest computer in the world and will provide scientists in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia with a state-of-the art tool for energy and environmental research.

This network is one of the major initial accomplishments of the Super Computing Science Consortium (SC2), a partnership formed last August under the sponsorship of the Department of Energy through the National Energy Technology Laboratory.

U.S. Congressional members and officials from West Virginia University (via video link), the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University are expected to participate in the ceremony.

* WHO :* The Undersecretary of Energy Ernest Moniz; U.S. Senators Specter and Santorum, U.S. Representatives Bill Coyne, Ron Link and Mike Doyle; NETL Director Rita Bajura; CMU President Dr. Jared Cohon; * WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr.;* Director of the Supercomputing Center Beverly Clayton.

* WHAT :* Ceremonial connection and demonstration of high-speed fiber optic network between PSC ’s Cray T3E , CMU, WVU and NETL .

* WHEN :* Thursday April 27, 1:30 p.m.

* WHERE :* 4th floor, Mellon Institute, corner of Fifth and Dithridge, Oakland; 209 Engineering Research Building, WVU Evansdale Campus. Parking is available in Lots 40 and 60.