Oct. 7, 2022

Big quantum week ahead for University of Calgary and Quantum City

Register now for an upcoming lecture and summit to learn more about quantum
The Quantum Sandbox
The Quantum Sandbox is a digital immersion gallery at the Telus Spark Science Centre and is a central part of next week’s Alberta Quantum Summit 2022. Telus Spark

Have you ever heard of quantum science and wondered what it was all about? Well, your chance to learn is here!

A Taste of Quantum: A Quantum Leap in Quantum Information is an upcoming public lecture as part of the University of Calgary’s 2022 Alumni All Access programming, hosted in partnership with the Institute for Quantum Science and Technology, the department of Physics and Astronomy, and the Faculty of Science.  

The event kicks off Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. at the Telus Spark Science Centre, where participants will have a chance to take in the Quantum Sandbox, a new digital immersion gallery that allows people to experience the quantum realm.

Then, at 7 p.m., attendees will be treated to a lecture from Dr. Peter Zoller, a professor for theoretical physics at the University of Innsbruck. Zoller will be introduced by UCalgary’s own Dr. Barry Sanders, PhD, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the director of the Institute for Quantum Science and Technology.

Zoller will discuss the recent progress being made in the world of building quantum computers and quantum simulators. By harnessing the power of quantum physics, these technologies could prove to be more powerful than their non-quantum counterparts. Zoller will cover this and what it means for society.

The quantumania doesn’t stop there, though! From Tuesday to Thursday, Telus Spark will also play host to the Alberta Quantum Summit 2022. Hosted by Quantum Alberta and Quantum City, the summit will feature internationally recognized academic and industry experts from across Canada and the world, who will discuss how quantum can bring efficiency, effectiveness, and entrepreneurship to organization’s pre-existing functions.

There will be panels highlighting the exciting quantum research being done here in Alberta, including research being done at Alberta’s universities and in industries across the province.

Major companies like AWS, IBM and Mphasis will host panels discussing their uses of quantum technology and their investments into Alberta.

Summit attendees will also have a unique opportunity on Wednesday night to have an experience in the Quantum Sandbox with three Indigenous Elders, including Dr. Leroy Little Bear. The Elders will walk participants through the five principles of quantum science from an Indigenous knowledge perspective.

To close out the Summit on Thursday, Mitacs will be announcing its quantum strategy.

Register for the Tuesday night lecture with Peter Zoller.

Researchers, industry members, government members, or NGOs wishing to attend the summit can register for the summit.