Quantum Summer School Is Just Around the Corner
A Q&A with Dr. David Stewart
As higher education embraces quantum computing, quantum information science, and all things quantum, numerous programs, courses, and events exist to connect the leading researchers, industry innovators, students in an emerging workforce, national labs and government funding organizations, and interdisciplinary faculty who form the core of the quantum movement. Here, Campus Technology asks the managing director of Purdue University's Quantum Science and Engineering Institute about efforts in quantum education, especially this year's Quantum Summer School, an initiative of the Quantum Science Center hosted at Purdue May 8-12, 2022.
"We are in the nascent stages of this second quantum revolution, and the technologies that will revolutionize the field are still being realized. We need academic researchers willing to push boundaries in order to make innovative breakthroughs." —David Stewart
Mary Grush: Where are we with quantum computing today? Are we in a new quantum computing revolution? What kind of timeline might we see for the growth of widely available quantum computing resources?
David Stewart: Quantum computing is advancing rapidly. For example, the number of qubits, which are quantum analogs to classical bits, in quantum machines has increased by more than an order of magnitude in the past decade. Additionally, several organizations have shown "quantum supremacy" where they have solved problems that would overwhelm a classical computer.
We are certainly in a quantum computing revolution. Quantum computing resources are actually already widely available as access is provided by a number of companies. However, due to size of the machines and operating conditions such as extreme low temperatures, we are still many years from quantum computers coming to our homes.
Grush: How important is it for academic institutions to establish some kind of quantum computing footprint?
Stewart: It is vital for two main reasons. First, the quantum workforce is extremely shorthanded. Academic institutions are essential to grow this workforce to ensure we have the manpower to advance the field. And second, we are in the nascent stages of this second quantum revolution, and the technologies that will revolutionize the field are still being realized. We need academic researchers willing to push boundaries in order to make innovative breakthroughs.
The quantum workforce is extremely shorthanded. Academic institutions are essential to grow this workforce to ensure we have the manpower to advance the field.
Grush: What is the second annual Quantum Summer School and can you tell us about some of its goals, content, and speakers?
Stewart: The Quantum Summer School is a part of the workforce development efforts of the Quantum Science Center (QSC). Purdue University leads these efforts under the direction of Professor Alexandra Boltasseva. The goal is to provide students and postdoctoral researchers a unique, world-class educational experience in our mission to grow the quantum workforce. This exciting event will feature lectures from world-leading experts from industry, academia, and national labs, interactive panel discussions, hands-on training sessions from QSC-affiliated companies, student poster sessions, and communication and presentation training. It will also provide networking opportunities for students and postdoctoral researchers.
Grush: Is quantum computing maturing as an academic discipline? Is it primarily in physics and computer engineering now? Could we soon see quantum computing as an essential part of the computer science curriculum?
Stewart: Quantum computing is certainly maturing as an academic discipline, but it even goes beyond computing to quantum information science in general, which also includes quantum sensing and quantum communication and networking. At Purdue, our faculty are primarily in the physics and electrical and computer engineering departments, but span a number of others as well including computer science, chemistry, other engineering, and even management. Different universities will certainly have a different dynamic. Purdue has hired around 15 new faculty members in quantum information science areas in the last six or seven years, so there has been a big push toward increasing quantum research and courses. Some universities have already introduced quantum information science degrees, and I think these will expand and increase in the next decade.
Grush: How can higher education institutions contribute, as Purdue does, to workforce development in quantum computing?
Stewart: First and foremost, Purdue's greatest output is the talent we produce. By hiring more faculty in quantum computing areas and creating new courses, higher education institutions can certainly contribute to developing a quantum computing workforce. Additionally, initiatives such as the Quantum Summer School will give students unique opportunities to gain experience in quantum computing.
Initiatives such as the Quantum Summer School will give students unique opportunities to gain experience in quantum computing.
Grush: What kind of investment in technology and personnel might higher education institutions need, to be ready to enter into quantum computing?
Stewart: First, you have to invest in world-class faculty and then recruit high-quality students. The people are the most important. Following that, you need to have excellent facilities and support research efforts, including support of finding external funding opportunities. Purdue has also taken additional steps by internally funding the Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute. This institute supports faculty and students in a number of ways, including fostering internal and external partnerships, funding seed projects, and helping to secure external funding.
Grush: At Purdue, your own institution, how is educational innovation in the quantum space fostered?
Stewart: We of course have a number of quantum courses within our standard curriculum, but also several other initiatives to foster educational innovation. One is the Quantum Summer School, which I have already described. Some other examples include a quantum MicroMasters Program, which is a 10-month course open to all and taught completely online by Purdue faculty. Another is our YouTube channel, which contains interviews with quantum leaders, short educational videos for the quantum novice, and also technical talks and seminars for experts.
Grush: What are the opportunities for academic institutions to partner with other academic institutions, industry, and national labs as quantum computing moves ahead?
Stewart: There are multitudes of opportunities, but academic institutions must be proactive in finding these. Purdue is fortunate that our Quantum Science and Engineering Institute seeks out these opportunities and has been quite successful. We are of course a core partner in the QSC but have also partnered in a few other major initiatives. Along with Indiana University and the University of Notre Dame, we have launched the Center for Quantum Technologies, which is one of the planned NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers [IUCRCs] and brings together academia, industry, and government to perform use-inspired, industry-relevant research. We have also recently launched the Midwest Quantum Collaboratory, a partnership with the University of Michigan and Michigan State University to facilitate and foster collaborations between the three universities in the realm of quantum science and technology. Purdue is also a founding member of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium, which was formed to enable and grow a robust commercial quantum-based industry. With the second quantum revolution booming, there are several similar initiatives throughout the country and world.
With the second quantum revolution booming, there are several similar initiatives throughout the country and world.
Grush: Getting back to this year's Quantum Summer School, where could I go to see the agenda that's developing? Can individuals register for the conference? What are some of the topics or sessions you're particularly excited about?
Stewart: The full agenda can be found at the Quantum Summer School Website. Individuals can also go here to register. While in-person registration is by invitation only due to space constraints, all are welcome to register for virtual participation.
There are a few sessions I'm particularly excited about. One is a workforce development session featuring Olivia Lanes from IBM Quantum as well as several Purdue faculty. We will also feature several hands-on training sessions from QSC industry partners including IBM, Microsoft, ColdQuanta, and QuEra. These will give the students unique opportunities to obtain real-world quantum computing experience from industry experts.
[Editor's note: Individuals wishing to attend the Quantum Summer School as virtual attendees should visit the Quantum Summer School Website event page to register. For more background on quantum computing and information science in higher education environments, see our August 2020 Q&A with Travis Humble, distinguished scientist and director of the Quantum Computing Institute at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.]