OQI partnered with the Center for Quantum Science and Engineering (QSE) at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) on a new course offered in the Quantum Science and Engineering Master’s programme — a three-part course introducing students to the potential of quantum computing to address global challenges aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On February 5, 2025, the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C., in partnership with Swissnex, celebrated the launch of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQST) 2025. A group of around 30 participants—including diplomats, U.S. government officials, scientists, and industry representatives—had the opportunity to engage in the newest version of the Open Quantum Institute’s Quantum Diplomacy Game for the very first time.
The Quantum Diplomacy Game is an interactive role-play game that simulates the challenges and opportunities of quantum computing for the common good in a fictional future scenario. Designed to promote science diplomacy, the game aims to raise awareness and anticipation of the geopolitical implications of quantum computing as an emerging technology.
From May 5 to 9, 2025, the Geneva Science Diplomacy Week—organised by the Geneva Science Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA)—brought together 36 global participants—including scientists, diplomats, policymakers, entrepreneurs, funders and citizens—to explore how science diplomacy can contribute to shaping a more inclusive future.
On day four of the programme, participants visited CERN to explore the Organization’s history and positioning at the intersection between science and diplomacy.
The event aims to explore how science diplomacy can contribute to shaping a more inclusive future and raise awareness and anticipation of the geopolitical implications of quantum computing, an emerging technology.
To commemorate the declaration of 2025 as the “International Year of Quantum Science and Technology,” this summer, we will hold a special exhibition titled “entangle Moment — [quantum, earth, universe] × art” at the Osaka–Kansai Expo in Japan.
This exhibition aims to allow a wide range of visitors to experience three key themes—the microscopic world of quantum, the oceans and Earth that nurture life, and the vast universe—through collaborations between science, technology, and art.
The year 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of quantum mechanics.
In recognition of this milestone, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2025 the “International Year of Quantum Science and Technology” under the auspices of UNESCO.
In celebration of this historic year, entangle moment – [quantum | earth | universe] × art will present an immersive experience of the quantum, ocean, and cosmic realms through interdisciplinary collaboration across science, technology, and the arts.
From the microcosmic world of quantum mechanics to the deep sea and global ecosystems and out into the mysteries of the cosmos, this exhibition offers “entangled” installations, where scientific knowledge and artistic imagination are interwoven.
Just as quantum research spans a century, scientists and artists alike have long explored the invisible, the uncertain, and the deeply mysterious aspects of nature.
Across eras, it is creative experimentation—rooted in imagination and technology—that has opened new paths of perception.
The venue will feature a circular space inspired by the legendary Ouroboros, symbolizing continuity between the micro and macro realms.
Within this space, cutting-edge research from Japanese universities, institutions, and companies—including quantum computing and sensing, quantum communication, Arctic exploration, deep-sea research tracing the origins of life, and astrophysical studies on black holes and dark matter—will coexist with artistic expressions to form a unique and immersive environment. Through these exhibitions, videos, XR installations, interactive artworks, and computer games, visitors may witness the moment when a new form of art emerges—born from the convergence of imagination and science.
As you explore the exhibition at your own pace, we invite you to reflect on how science and technology are becoming inseparable from our changing planet, and to consider the “moment” we live in—across past, present, and future.
A rich lineup of stage events will also be held, including talks, workshops, and musical programs featuring researchers, artists, and thinkers from diverse fields.
We hope this exhibition serves as a catalyst for new questions, ideas, and initiatives that will propel us into the next 100 years.
On May 12, 2025, the International Telecommunication Union hosted the Quantum Diplomacy Game, kicking off with a deep dive into the quantum realm: from the roots of quantum mechanics to the promise—and challenges—of quantum computing.
This conference on quasiprobability distributions in quantum mechanics, optics, and information (QuiDiQua) will bring together physicists and mathematicians studying all aspects of the use of quasiprobabilities in quantum mechanics, as well as of their recent applications in quantum information theory and quantum metrology.
Join us for a captivating afternoon that brings science and art together through a reading from the new book Two Revolutions: Einstein’s Relativity and Quantum Physics, jointly authored by the late black hole physicist C. V. Vishveshwara and his daughter, theoretical physicist Smitha Vishveshwara. The book explores the twin revolutions of Einstein’s relativity and quantum physics, woven through personal reflections and imaginative storytelling. The event will feature artists and physicists sharing science, dramatized dialogues spanning themes from the quantum to the cosmic, and a dance performance that interprets the story of the Universe and the rhythm of scientific discovery through movement.
Book reading: Vijay Padaki (Theatre Educator & Playwright), Minti Jain (Theatre Educator & Actor), Dr B S Shylaja (Former Director, JNP), Sri Pramod G Galgali (Former Director, JNP), Sri H R Madhusudana (Visiting Faculty, JNP), and Smitha Vishveshwara (Quantum physicist & author)
Interpretive dance: Suma Krishnamurthy (Bharathanatyam Dancer)
Music: Lavanya Krishnamurthy (Karnatak Musician)
Guest scientists: Parameswaran Ajith (Astrophysicist)
Anchor: Prajval Shastri (Astrophysicist)
C. V. Vishveshwara was a theoretical physicist, affectionately known as the “Black Hole Man of India.” He is best known for his discovery of the “quasi-normal modes” of black holes — vibrational modes of black holes that are analogous to the ringdown of a bell. His predictions were confirmed by the recent observations of gravitational waves. A well-known author and cartoonist, he was the founding director of the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium in Bengaluru.
Smitha Vishveshwara is a theoretical physicist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, known for her work at the interface of condensed matter physics and quantum phenomena. She is also known for her creative approaches to science communication, blending physics with music, theatre, and storytelling to make complex ideas accessible to broad audiences.
The year 2025 marks a historic milestone—100 years since the birth of quantum mechanics, a scientific revolution that redefined our understanding of nature at its most fundamental level. In celebration of this centenary and in alignment with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025), declared by UNESCO, we proudly present the Workshop Celebrating the Quantum Century: From Puzzling Principles to Transformative Technologies 2025 (SCQC 2025).
Organized under the aegis of the COMSNETS Association, SCQC 2025 is a special edition workshop dedicated to reflecting on a century of quantum discoveries while charting the course for the next era of transformative quantum technologies. This workshop encompasses all four major drivers of quantum technology, i.e., computing, sensing, communications, and materials.
From the early philosophical debates on wave-particle duality and uncertainty to today’s advancements in quantum computing, communication, sensing, and materials, this workshop serves as a unique platform to bridge the journey from foundational principles to real-world impact.
SCQC 2025 will bring together a distinguished community of researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, startups, students, and educators.
How do you measure the success of an outreach project? When we launched QuanTour just over a year ago, we didn’t really know what to expect.
Our idea of QuanTour started with a simple, playful concept: what if a quantum emitter (an artificial atom made out of semiconductor material capable of emitting one photon at a time) could travel across Europe, visiting research labs in a kind of relay race, announcing the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology like an Olympic torch? We packed a real quantum light source — a single-photon emitter — into a custom-built suitcase and sent it on tour. The goal wasn’t just to showcase quantum technology and offer a look behind the scenes, but to connect people and to highlight the diversity of scientists, from students to professors. From the very beginning, we had one audience especially in mind: young people between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five. Not with hard educational content or dense physics explanations, but through a light, fun concept that sparks curiosity. By showcasing scientists in an authentic way, we aimed to make science tangible and approachable.
A year later, we find ourselves overwhelmed by the project’s rapid development. Across digital platforms, QuanTour content has reached over one million views, far more than we had imagined. To put that into perspective, a research paper might receive 30 citations per year, while a conference talk might reach 200 people. QuanTour, by contrast, reached homes, labs, newspapers, podcasts, and people, finding a presence in places that traditional academic outputs rarely reach.
While these are just numbers, it’s the stories surrounding the quantum emitter that are truly memorable. The open lab days organized by researchers at QuanTour stops welcomed both young and old. The newspaper clippings proudly passed around among families who saw their children and grandchildren featured in the media. The regional news outlets that celebrated their role in a European-wide initiative, not only in English but in the many languages spoken across Europe. The unexpected scientific exchanges between labs that hadn’t worked together before. These encounters, often spontaneous and personal, remind us that quantum science is not just about abstract theory or precision measurement. It is about human connection, about curiosity, and about the shared joy of discovery.
Looking back, we also learned a lot about what makes outreach successful. One key ingredient was choosing the right partners. Since the task force of the German Physical Society (DPG) was founded three years before the start of the Quantum Year, we became part of the team and refined our idea. The German Physical Society played a vital role, not only by supporting us financially—with generous funding from the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation – and administratively, but also by helping to spread the word. Another important aspect is that we teamed up with science communication expert Dr. Pranoti Kshirsagar from The Science Talk. She taught us how to build sustainable communication strategies, how to identify a target audience, how to make our content visible, and how to overcome our initial hesitation with digital platforms. She also hosted a twelve-episode podcast series featuring interviews with the scientists behind QuanTour. These episodes became much more than outreach content. They evolved into a kind of lecture series on quantum science, accessible to everyone.
Another lesson we took to heart is that outreach, just like research, thrives through collaboration. Partnering with established institutions and strong communicators can amplify ideas and make them visible to entirely new audiences. Involving the community directly is just as essential. When we announced a challenge to bring QuanTour to Türkiye, the response was immediate and enthusiastic. When it finally arrived, the celebration at the Izmir Quantum Days was unforgettable. Students asked thought-provoking questions, researchers welcomed them with enthusiasm, and the atmosphere was electric from start to finish.
Now, while the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology is in full swing, the journey of the quantum light source continues. We are already planning the next chapters of QuanTour, with new stops, new stories, and new encounters that bring quantum science into conversation with the wider world. Outreach does not end when the suitcase closes. It evolves, just like science itself.
Cheers to the little quantum emitter and to all those who have contributed to turning an idea into a movement.
Authors: Doris Reiter (TU Dortmund) and Tobias Heindel (TU Berlin), Members of the DPG Quantum Taskforce
Contact QuanTour: quantour2025@gmail.com
Contact DPG: pr@dpg-physik.de
Featured image: Fabrizio Mercoli
The Brilliant (Quantum) Poetry competition invites participants worldwide to submit poems inspired by quantum science themes, such as superposition, entanglement, and uncertainty. Submissions will be accepted in all UN official languages, with English translations for judging.
First prize £1000 — Second prize £500 — Third prize £250
Launch: March 21, 2025
Submission Deadline: June 30, 2025
Winners will be announced on November 10
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