The STAGE Center’s Quantum Journeys

We are STAGE—Scientists, Technologists, and Artists Generating Exploration—and this year, we’ve taken quantum play on a remarkable journey.

What began in our labs at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) has spilled into classrooms, campuses, fairs, airports, and international venues. The Center has created a suite of games called the Quantum Casino (also known as the Quantum Arcade and the Quantum Carnival). The Casino explores how cooperative and competitive game play can afford people from all walks of life a better intuition for and understanding of what quantum physics is, along with an appreciation for what advantages may be attained by leveraging quantum technologies. In the last six months, our Quantum Casino has traveled far beyond our Chicago campus in a wholehearted celebration of the International Year of Quantum.

The Quantum Casino is just one aspect of the collaborative work happening at the STAGE Center. At the heart of STAGE’s mission is the belief that creativity and discovery thrive at the intersection of disciplines. By bringing together artists, scientists, and technologists, the Center fosters a space where experimental ideas can take shape, leading to innovative approaches in both scientific communication and artistic creation. This multidisciplinary environment encourages collaboration that challenges traditional boundaries, ultimately generating work that not only entertains but also enlightens, sparking curiosity and deeper appreciation for science in audiences of all backgrounds. Bringing these ideas to life through our travels with the Quantum Casino has been an exciting way to see IYQ in action.

Our journey began in Japan, where we brought hands-on analog and digital quantum games to Tohoku University’s Open Campus, engaging hundreds of students encountering quantum ideas for the first time. Their excitement led to a return trip in October, deepening our growing partnership and demonstrating how cross-cultural collaboration can make quantum concepts accessible, joyful, and intuitive. From there, our work carried us to Paris, where we introduced our creative, art-science approach to new international audiences and with students from local elementary schools to university students at our host institution, Isep (the Paris Institute of Digital Technology). Back in the U.S., we continued our mission closer to home with a major presence at the Illinois State Fair in the tent of Governor JB Pritzker. There, visitors of all ages explored interactive exhibits that connected quantum ideas to everyday experience, proving that quantum outreach need not be confined to laboratories or universities.

Throughout these travels, our goal remained constant: to spark public interest in quantum science and technologies through creative storytelling and gameplay. These past months have reaffirmed our belief that science and art become most powerful when people can experience and explore them together. As the International Year of Quantum comes to a close, the STAGE Center is excited to continue creating fun pathways for quantum engagement and curiosity to thrive. 

Credits of the pictures: STAGE Center