Public Outreach

In addition to educating a new generation of students and scientists, IQIM strives to engage the public’s fascination with the mysteries of the quantum realm. Follow our blog Quantum Frontiers with regular posts by IQIM graduate students, faculty, postdocs, and a few guest authors. Topics include discussion of recent breakthroughs in science, insights into the community and life of scientists here and around the world, along with highlights of our outreach efforts.

IQIM’s Twitter account @IQIM_Caltech builds community with other quantum science centers (JQI, Perimeter Institute, CQT, IQC, IST Austria, and others) by coordinating scientific announcements and promoting the work of quantum scientists from around the world. We also highlight women scientists in our regular #QuantumWoman feature; and as part of our celebration of the 50 th anniversary of Feynman’s Nobel Prize, we post a regular series of Feynman quotes and images as part of #FeynmanFriday.

Film and Media

Scientists and Hollywood are both searching for creative ways to describe new, mind-blowing ideas of what might be possible now and in the future.  Through our short films IQIM has brought together Dr. Stephen Hawking and Hollywood superstars Paul Rudd, Zoe Saldana and Keanu Reeves, describing quantum entanglement and quantum superposition, sharing a bit of our enthusiasm for a quantum world where things don’t always behave as we expect. In our animation series created with Jorge Cham of PHD Comics, IQIM Scientists describe current challenges and exciting possibilities.

Events

IQIM has presented public events. In May 2018, we helped celebrate the 100th anniversary of Richard Feynman’s birthday at Feynman 100. A crowd of over 1,000 participated in an evening program and scientific symposium the following day. In January 2016 we hosted One Entangled Evening, a night of science and entertainment celebrating Feynman’s quantum legacy. This was followed by the Quantum Summit which brought industry leaders together with the academic community to discuss current work and exciting potential projects.

Quantum Games

IQIM’s quantum games began by developing qCraft (in collaboration with Google and MinecraftEDU); a mod that brings concepts of quantum physics into the popular online game Minecraft. Quantum Chess developed by USC graduate student, Chris Cantwell is a variant of chess that allows players to move in quantum ways, like superposition. The chess game is also built on a quantum physics platform.

K-12

IQIM has facilitated programs for K-12 students and teachers. Over 1,000 students participate in programs held on the Caltech campus and IQIM members participate in community science nights at local schools. Members of IQIM ranging from graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, staff and faculty participate in classroom visits, quantum gaming demonstrations, Skype discussions with classrooms, and other media such as interviews and discussions on podcasts.  

Film and Media

Scientists and Hollywood are both searching for creative ways to describe new, mind-blowing ideas of what might be possible now and in the future.  Through our short films IQIM has brought together Dr. Stephen Hawking and Hollywood superstars Paul Rudd, Zoe Saldana and Keanu Reeves, describing quantum entanglement and quantum superposition, sharing a bit of our enthusiasm for a quantum world where things don’t always behave as we expect. In our animation series created with Jorge Cham of PHD Comics, IQIM Scientists describe current challenges and exciting possibilities.

Events

IQIM has presented public events. In May 2018, we helped celebrate the 100th anniversary of Richard Feynman’s birthday at Feynman 100. A crowd of over 1,000 participated in an evening program and scientific symposium the following day. In January 2016 we hosted One Entangled Evening, a night of science and entertainment celebrating Feynman’s quantum legacy. This was followed by the Quantum Summit which brought industry leaders together with the academic community to discuss current work and exciting potential projects.

Quantum Games

IQIM’s quantum games began by developing qCraft (in collaboration with Google and MinecraftEDU); a mod that brings concepts of quantum physics into the popular online game Minecraft. Quantum Chess developed by USC graduate student, Chris Cantwell is a variant of chess that allows players to move in quantum ways, like superposition. The chess game is also built on a quantum physics platform.

K-12

IQIM has facilitated programs for K-12 students and teachers. Over 1,000 students participate in programs held on the Caltech campus and IQIM members participate in community science nights at local schools. Members of IQIM ranging from graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, staff and faculty participate in classroom visits, quantum gaming demonstrations, Skype discussions with classrooms, and other media such as interviews and discussions on podcasts.