Sparks! committee meeting - Quantum

Tuesday 20 Jun 2023, 15:00 → 16:00 Europe/Zurich

Zoom

23-06-20- Sparks Committee (1).pdf

23-06-20- Sparks Committee (1).pptx

3. Launch

 

Talk 01:

ADM asks whether a talk during the Launch would be the best use of Rovelli? A Quantum 101 talk would not be ideal for him to give. Instead it would be more interesting for him to talk during the main event in March, about how the future quantum revolution might change our current perception of reality, adding a social/philosophical aspect to the discussion. 

CM says the idea was to have an external person give 101 and have someone from CERN talk about implications -  then it may yes make sense to keep Rovelli for a broader talk during the main event (important to note political views). 

JG notes it would be good to hear Manjit Kumar talk, as his book has excellent reviews but not sure about speaker qualities.

ADM suggests looking into Nicole Yunger Halpern “Quantum Steampunk: The Physics of Yesterday's Tomorrow”. She could be interesting as both a novelist and a physicist, and is a good storyteller. 

MD Majit Kumar seems to be a usual old guy, and agrees with Nicole.

 

Talk 02:

ADM says it would be good for the CERN talk not to be a technical presentation but a basic overview. He would agree to have his name put down if no one else comes forward

MD suggests we could ask Sofia Vallercosa. Good speaker and personality

 

Talk 03:

ADM is asked about Quantum Delta NL, he says they have no direct implication with CERN

MD remarks that so far in this programme for the Launch, diversity is ok, unless you want to go for a fully women-led event, which would make a statement in itself

ADM Giles from Quantum Institute to represent Gesda, OQUI - this should be possible by November, although it might also be a bit too late. It would be important to show that CERN does talk about Quantum. SDG angle could be used, someone from OQI could come!

CM: Session can be adapted, shorter talks can be added to accommodate someone from OQI

 

Performace

GM: Su Wenchi makes sense, to re-invite to CERN

MD: Not sure Serpentine is a crowd pleaser

ADM: lab that produces games that present basic Quantum concepts (quantum training). CM says maybe we can add for the March event? 

 

4. Theme and Topics

 

ADM mentioned that we could think of these topics as a narrative. By starting with our understanding of Quantum and how that changes our perceptions of reality and possibilities (1). Then how do we share knowledge among researchers (2) and then with users (3). We can then add the international conditions that will allow accessibility to happen (4). Finally how these how these applications might change our lives (5) and finally what other possibilities will it open for knowledge development among other research fields (6). 

MD:  there’s a divide on the research front, but now it’s also political. Also practitioner vs user Bring in arms control to ensure we can maybe open up the discussion

 

Refine new topics 

1 - Interpreting Reality -  How will the coming quantum revolution change our understanding of reality?

2 - Sharing Quantum - How do we ensure global knowledge sharing amongst researchers?

3 - Opening Quantum - How do we ensure that users have fair access to knowledge and technology in a shared and open way?

4- Changing the game - The first true quantum computer might bestow geopolitical advantage. What frameworks need to be put into place to avoid global supremacy?

5 - Sensing Quantum - Quantum sensors have the potential to reduce the costs of high-tech apparatus, especially linked to health. How these applications might change our lives? How do we ensure the new tools will be used towards democratisation rather than risk increasing the societal divide? 

6 - Expanding Quantum - How will quantum computing shake up existing structures in research (small vs. large groups), industry, geopolitics (think a small country with first quantum supremacy)? How will allow us to ask a question in a new way allowing to leapfrog to a new understanding?

 

5. Co-conveners

 

ADM: Good idea, you could bring in innovators from the humanitarian organizations, XPRIZE, Geneva entanglement people, etc

 

6. Actions

CM - Invite for Nov 16 event: Nicole Yunger Halpern “Quantum Steampunk: The Physics of Yesterday's Tomorrow” for talk 01 , Sofia Vallercosa for talk 02, Jason Palmer (economist) for talk 03. In addition we will leave open the idea of having someone representing OQI and that this person could be Reeke Heijman-te Paske (Quantum Delta NL). Regarding artists giving preference to Suwenchi who was part of the Arts residency programming, 

 

CM - Invite for March event: Rovelli to discuss the future quantum revolution might change our current perception of reality and with David Quayola for the performance

 

ADM - will refine them, ensuring they are aligned with OQI, if CERN confirms its involvement in the next couple of weeks; accessing also if with that decision, we should add a talk about Open Quantum Initiative

 

All - Think of at least one group/lab/university that could act as a co-convener for each topic.