AAAS Panel: The Human Side of Quantum Science

Chicago Quantum Exchange's Chief Executive Officer, Kate Waimey Timmerman, will be moderating a panel titled, The Human Side of Quantum Science: Policy, Access, Benefit to Humanity, which will include panelists from Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Lab, on Saturday, March 4 at 1:30pm. 

The pace of the development of quantum technologies continues to accelerate as researchers get better at harnessing nature's atom-scale features for practical use. As researchers build powerful quantum computers and hackerproof quantum networks, they are also working on creating a national and global environment that will maximize the technologies' impact for humanity. How does quantum technology intersect with human activity -- on both the developer and user sides -- and how to shape those interactions? Making quantum tools accessible to a broad audience and creating opportunities to learn the science are important for democratizing the technology. Policies that consider both the science and the ecosystem can also encourage the quantum community to grow the talent pool and create partnerships that are needed not only to advance research, but also to maintain national security, create jobs, and expand the economy. Looking ahead to the future of computing, this session also considers how these technologies will help improve society --  how manipulating nature at its smallest scales can have an impact at the human scale. In this session, scientists affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy National Quantum Information Science Research Centers will talk about the human side of quantum research: the creation of a healthy, inclusive quantum ecosystem, the development of policy for quantum information science, and the impact of computing on society.

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