Badger Talk: The Dirty Secret of AI, Datacenters, and High Performance Computers: Embodied Carbon
The carbon footprint of computing systems spans their entire lifecycle, including manufacturing, operation, transportation, and recycling. Notably, the widespread use of billions of hand-held devices, such as smartphones and tablets, along with essential web services, plays a significant role in global warming. Currently, the combined carbon emissions from computing and networking devices contribute about 2% to global carbon emissions—a figure projected to double in the next decade. Given the escalating production and consumption of digital data globally, it’s crucial to deeply understand and address the emissions from personal devices, data centers, and networking infrastructure within the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector.
Swamit Tannu is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Sciences Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he leads the QUEST Research Group. His research interests include computer architecture and quantum computing. Swamit’s research focuses on designing efficient quantum computers that can solve commercial and scientific problems.
This is a free, in-person Badger Talk hosted on November 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM by Sturm Memorial Library in Manawa, WI. No registration required. This talk will not be available virtually.