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IYQ Closing Ceremony

Celebration and Reflection: The Quantum Legacy

The IYQ Closing Ceremony will be held on February 10 & 11, 2026, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana. Registration is required, space is limited, and spots will be given on a first come first serve basis. Please fill in the registration form.

The ceremony will be livestreamed. The link will be shared here and on social media. Stay tuned!

Key information and registration

High-Level Opening Ceremony, February 10, 2026

09:00  Registration, Welcome & Quantum 100 video

10:00   Welcome Address by Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Education of Ghana

10:10   Statements by:

  • UN Resident Coordinator
  • Video Message by UNESCO Director General 
  • John Doyle, Past President of the American Physical Society  
  • Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology of Ghana

10:50  Cultural Interlude: Video IYQ 2025 Poetry Contest

11:00   Keynote Address: A Century of Quantum Science: Celebrating 100 Years of Discovery, Impact, and the Next Frontier for Humanity

             Speaker: Michele Dougherty, Institute of Physics 

11:30   Group Photograph/Coffee Break/

 

PART I

12:15    Panel Discussion: Launch of the IYQ 2025 Report — Consolidating the Gains of IYQ2025 and Advancing the International Day of Quantum Science”

              Moderator: Sir Peter Knight, Imperial College London

              Panelists:

  • Amal Kasry, UNESCO
  • Francis Oduro, KNUST University
  • Emily Edwards, Duke University
  • Paul Cadden-Zimansky, Bard College
  • Yasser Omar, Portuguesse Quantum Institute      

12:45.   Cultural Segment:  Quantum Rhythms 

  • Performance by a Ghanaian Youth inspired by Science
  • Reading of the IYQ2025 Poetry Contest winning entry

13:15   Lunch Break & Networking 

14:30   Dialogue: Africa and the Future of Quantum Science and Technology: Leadership, Innovation, and the Road Ahead

              Moderator: Sandro Scandolo, ICTP

              Panelists:

  • Nii Narku Quaynor, University of Cape Coast
  • Ahmed Younes, Alexandria University
  • Yassera Ismail, Stellenbosch University
  • Estelle Inack, Perimeter Institute
  • Zeblon Vilakazi, Wits University

15:15   Keynote Address: Unlocking Tomorrow: Quantum Knowledge as a Catalyst for Human Advancement

              Speaker: Heike Riel, German Physical Society

15:45   Summary of Day 1 Activities and Announcement

             Moderator: ITU Representative

16:00   End of Part I

 

PART II

19:00   Welcome Dinner: Hosted by the Minister for Education, Ghana, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu.

Download the program

Engagement and Inspiration: Quantum Futures. February 11, 2026

09:00   Recap of Day 1 Activities

09:05   Panel Discussion: Exploring the strategic priorities that will define the next decade of quantum science and technology                  

Moderator: Jonathan Bagger, Americal Physical Society

Panelists:

  • UNESCO Representative
  • Silvina Ponce Dawson, IUPAP
  • Ahmadou Wague, African Physical Society 
  • Joe Queenan, SCQuantum
  • Tommaso Calarco, EU Quantum Flagship

 09:50   Introduction and  Launch of Global Quantum Initiative 

Presentation by UNESCO / GESDA (10 min)

Panel Discussion (45 min): A discussion of the Global Quantum Initiative launched by UNESCO together with other founding partners.  

              Moderator: TBA      

              Panelists: 

  • UNESCO Representative
  • Mira Wolf-Bauwens, GESDA
  • Gillian Makamara, ITU
  • UNU Representative

10:45   Panel Discussion: Quantum Science for Global Development: Building Talent, Expanding Access, and Shaping the Future of National Competitiveness

              Moderator: Carla Hermann, University of Chile 

              Panelists:

  • Rosario Fazio, ICTP 
  • Prince Osei, AIMS
  • Daniel Moraes, Venturus
  • David Morcuende, QuIC

11:30   Forum lead:  Education, Workforce Force, and Youth

            Topic: Preparing the World for a Quantum Future: Education, Skills and Youth-Led Innovation

13:00   Lunch Break

14:30   Cultural Visit

17:00   Departure

Obtaining a visa for entry to Ghana is required for most foreign passport holders.  Visa requirements depend on your passport nationality. Please check the requirements for your own country, but typically include information regarding:

 

  • date of arrival
  • duration of stay
  • purpose of visit
  • travel itinerary
  • place of lodging

 

Generally, valid documentation of a yellow fever vaccination is required upon arrival in Ghana.

 

Tourist visas can typically use their hotel accommodations as host with documentation of a booking confirmation.