AMD Corporate Responsibility Newsletter - Summer 2011

Check out AMD’s Corporate Responsibility Report Newsletters for the latest updates to AMD corporate responsibility news, events, and more.

In this issue:   Director's Letter: Goosebumps and tears…
This is a phrase I heard recently that feels apropos for this issue of AMD's Corporate Responsibility Update. For more than 40 years, AMD has produced some of the world’s most advanced semiconductor products that are the brains behind the gadgets that power our technological lives.  Read Tim Mohin's full article   AMD Executive Perspective - Microchips, Macro Benefits
Dr. Chekib Akrout, Senior VP, Technology Group, offers his perspective on the global benefits of microchips including their use in advancing medical science, education and environmental protection.  Read More   The Deep Dive - Technology Addressing Global Issues
Most people would agree that businesses have a responsibility to mitigate adverse effects from the manufacture and use of its products on the environment, its employees, and society in general. The energy use of our products has the greatest potential impact on our environment.  Learn how AMD works to improve the energy efficiency of our products
  However, mitigating adverse effects is just one side of the coin. The other side is to help facilitate the use of products for the greater good. AMD technology is being used to address global issues in areas such as the environment, healthcare and education. Some of this work is being done using the world’s fastest computers - supercomputers - with 4 of the top 10 currently powered by AMD Opteron™ technology.   Environment

• Biofuels and weather simulations.  Scientists at the University of Tennessee use the Kraken Computer at Oak Ridge National Labs to improve the production and use of biofuels.   Read more about the use of the Kraken  

• Weather Simulations.   One of the world’s fastest computers, Jaguar, is housed at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF).  10 million processor hours have been allocated to understanding and predicting the climate system. Find out more about this computer and the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) support of research to support their energy mission.   Learn more

• Wind Energy.   The Nor-Tec Supercomputer cluster is being used to optimize turbine placement and positioning for maximum output and will be used for similar renewable energy projects including a DOE-funded project to generate wind power for New York City.  Read more about the Nor-Tec

  Healthcare

• Medical Imaging.   Doctors rely on superior graphics to help provide accurate diagnosis for their patients. AMD collaborated with Barco to improve medical imaging and address other healthcare sector needs.  Read more about AMD and Barco

• Personalized Medicine.   Dr. Aleksei Aksimentiev from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign uses the Ranger Supercomputer at the Texas Advanced Computing Center to research personalized medicine/genetic modeling.  The goal is to use information about a patient’s genetic and biochemical make-up to determine the most effective treatment for that patient.   Listen to the Earthsky podcast and read the case study

  Education

• Technology Centers.  AMD has installed 18 technology centers around the world to foster science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills in at-risk youth through the creation of digital games.  Part of the AMD Foundation’s global education initiative, AMD Changing the Game is designed to take gaming beyond entertainment and inspire youth to learn.  Learn more about AMD Changing the Game

  AMD Changing the Game Expands Global Presence The global education initiative of the AMD Foundation, AMD Changing the Game Learn more about AMD Changing the Game, inspires youth to learn by enabling them to create video games around social issues. Since its launch in 2008, the program has grown from just 4 partners to 23 partners and 40 programs, and has expanded to 6 countries - United States, Canada, China, Malaysia, Germany and Abu Dhabi.     Japan Disaster - People First “People first, products and profits will follow.”  Jerry Sanders (AMD’s first CEO) often made this statement and it still permeates AMD operations today.  When Japan was devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, AMD’s first concern was its employees, ensuring that all were safe and offering relocation to those wishing to move away from affected areas. This is reflected in the initial statements from AMD and two other major component companies on the impact of the disaster.  Read the article
  In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, AMD employees contributed more than $135,000 which AMD matched for a total cash contribution of $270,000.  Read about AMD support   AMD Community Corps AMD's volunteer initiative allows employee volunteer teams to apply for $500 grants to be awarded to their local nonprofits or schools. More than 74 grants have been awarded to 36 nonprofits in 6 countries.  Read more about AMD's Team Development Grant activities   Diversity at AMD AMD hired a Director of Diversity in 2010 with a goal to exponentially increase the pace and quality of innovation at AMD by driving a culture that expects and rewards diversity of thought and inclusive collaboration.  Read more about AMD’s Diversity perspective and plans   Subscribe to our newsletters here.   AMD15995