Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable MÉLANIE JOLY unveiled Innovation150 and almost $6 million in funding from the Government of Canada at the Discovery Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia in March 2016. Canadian astrophysicist and winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics, ARTHUR McDONALD, the official ambassador for Innovation150, was also on hand to welcome the project partners: IQC, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Actua, the Canada Science & Technology Museums Corporation and the Canadian Association of Science Centres. An interactive, year-long celebration of Canadian ideas, ingenuity and innovation, the Innovation150 project brings experiences in science and technology to communities across the country for Canada’s 150th anniversary.
“QUANTUM: THE EXHIBITION IS A CELEBRATION OF OUR RESEARCHERS, AND WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR…YOU’LL EXPLORE WHAT QUANTUM MECHANICS MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY. YOU’LL SEE THAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS, AND THAT QUANTUM COMPUTING TRULY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM OUR WORLD.”
- Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
IQC shares quantum information science and technology from coast to coast to coast
“Canada’s 150th anniversary is an ideal time to celebrate great Canadian science and bring quantum science to Canadians across the country,” said TOBI DAY-HAMILTON, IQC’s Director, Communications and Strategic Initiatives. “The research that is happening at IQC and at other institutes across the country is too important to stay in the labs. A lot of amazing quantum research takes place right in our own backyard and we want to share this great work with our fellow Canadians.”
How do you take a complex topic like quantum mechanics, a concept that redefines our understanding of nature, and make it accessible to everyone? The answer: you build an interactive, science exhibition about it. QUANTUM: The Exhibition premiered downtown Kitchener at THEMUSEUM on October 13, 2016. Special guests not only had the opportunity to see the exhibition before anyone else, but they also saw a surprise video message from world-renowned theoretical physicist STEPHEN HAWKING for his former student, RAYMOND LAFLAMME, congratulating him on his advocacy to share quantum science with the world.
“In many ways, Canadian researchers are leading the development of new quantum technologies that will transform our lives,” explained Laflamme. “This exhibition explores these technologies and how they will inevitably change the world.” The exhibition travelled across Canada in 2017 including stops in Vancouver, Calgary, Saskatoon, Halifax and Ottawa.
“We often hear from people that quantum science is intimidating,” said Day-Hamilton. “From the beginning, our goal in developing QUANTUM was to engage people of all ages in a fun and unique way. We want everyone to have an understanding of how quantum technologies will change their lives.”
The Smallest National Flag is travelling across Canada with QUANTUM: The Exhibition. IQC’s GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ record title for Smallest National Flag measures 1.178 micrometres in length and is invisible without the aid of an electron microscope.
Special guests gathered at the October 13 launch of QUANTUM: The Exhibition. Pictured left to right is University of Waterloo President and Vice-Chancellor FERIDUN HAMDULLAHPUR, the Honourable BARDISH CHAGGER, IQC Senior Manager, Scientific Outreach MARTIN LAFOREST, IQC Executive Director RAYMOND LAFLAMME, Mayor of Waterloo DAVE JAWORSKY, the Honourable KIRSTY DUNCAN, MP RAJ SAINI, MPP DAIENE VERNILE, Councillors ANGELA VIETH and JEFF HENRY, IQC Director, Communications and Strategic Initiatives TOBI DAY-HAMILTON and MP HAROLD ALBRECHT.
