The Center combines expertise from computer scientists in the Ying Wu College of Computing (Computer Science Department) with that of physicists and mathematicians in the College of Science and Liberal Arts (Departments of Physics and Mathematical Sciences), and established partnership with the NASA Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) Division at the NASA Ames Research Center.

The Center focuses on new innovative approaches, including development of intelligent databases, automatic feature identification and classification, realistic numeric simulations based on first physics principles, and observational data modeling.

The Center develops a synergy of these approaches based on recent advances in heliophysics and computer science. The new methods and tools can be used in broader science and engineering applications. 

The Center involves undergraduate and graduate students in interdisciplinary research projects, and introduces students to modern supercomputing, realistic simulations and modeling, multimedia and big data technologies, and thus broaden their knowledge and experience.