A full day of quantum for undergraduate and high-school students
Discover quantum science and technology at the Youth Quantum Symposium, hosted by the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) on Friday, March 20, 2026 from 10am to 4:30pm at the Quantum-Nano Centre, QNC 0101, on the University of Waterloo campus.
The Youth Quantum Symposium is a full-day event for undergraduate students and keen high-school students to hear about today’s quantum research, talk with quantum researchers, and learn about opportunities to study quantum science.
What to expect
- Keynotes on quantum science and technology
- Presentations from quantum experts on exciting research
- Demonstrations of quantum effects and live experiments
- Networking opportunities
Participants will also vote for their favourite student presentation to determine the Quantum Student’s Choice award.
Who should attend?
The Youth Quantum Symposium is open to interested undergraduate students and high-school students ages 15 and above. Educators are also welcome to attend.
There is no fee to attend. Lunch will be provided for registered attendees. Participants are responsible for their own travel and transit. The event will not be live-streamed or recorded.
How to attend?
The deadline was Friday, March 6. The event is at capacity and registration is now closed. Confirmation emails to eligible participants will be sent out shortly after the deadline. Registrants under the age of 18 will be provided parental release forms that must be submitted ahead of attending. Please email iqc-outreach@uwaterloo.ca with any questions.
Keynote speakers
Professor Christine Muschik
Institute for Quantum Computing, Perimeter Institute, and the Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Waterloo.
Topic: From Curious to Researcher: Physics with AI
Alex Maierean
Co-founder and CEO, Phantom Photonics.
Topic: Building a Quantum Startup
Schedule
The schedule is subject to change.
| Time (ET) | |
| 9:30 AM | Registration opens in QNC 0101 |
| 10:00 AM | Welcome to IQC and Introduction to Quantum Science and Technology |
| 10:30 AM | Keynote: Alex Maierean, Building a Quantum Startup |
| 11:00 AM | Student research talks |
| 12:00 PM | Prizes Round One |
| 12:15 PM | Lunch and Experiment Demonstrations |
| 1:15 PM | Student research talks part two |
| 2:15 PM | Special presentation: Benjamin MacLellan, Building the World's First Open-Source Quantum Computer |
| 2:30 PM | Voting and Experiment Demonstrations |
| 3:00 PM | Keynote: Christine Muschik, From Curious to Researcher: Physics with AI |
| 3:30 PM | Awards Ceremony and Prizes Round Two |
| 4:00 PM | Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream |
| 4:30 PM | End of day |
Research talks
Special Presentation
Benjamin MacLellan (Open Quantum Design)
Building the world's first open-source quantum computer.
Morning session 11:00-12:00
Everett Patterson
Quantum Probes of Spacetime: A Brief Introduction to Relativisitic Quantum Information
Ireneo James Membrere
Entanglement Harvesting: From Relativistic Quantum Information Theory to Superconducting Experiments
Karolina Halys
Cool States of Matter
Vijay Iyer
Quantum Experiments Deep Underground in SNOLAB
Afternoon session 1:15-2:15
Forouzan Forouharmanesh
Exploring Quantum Worlds When Atoms Get Ultracold
Anastasiia Mashko
Creating Quantum Worlds: Laser Cooling and Trapping
Angéline Lafleur
Quantum-precise voltage standards from superconductors
Ria Chakraborty
From Physics to Policy: Why Quantum Technologies Aren’t Just a Scientific Challenge
This event is supported in part by funding from the Ontario Early Researcher Awards program and the Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED) CanCode program.
Code of Conduct
The Youth Quantum Symposium is a workshop based on collaboration. We will be learning about complex phenomena using new tools that most will be learning for the first time. We hope to foster a productive learning environment, where all students are able to participate, feel heard, and get help when needed, from both the workshop leaders and in their peer group. We expect all participants to show respect to the presenters, the organizers, and, most importantly, each other.
The Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) is dedicated to providing a harassment-free workshop experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of workshop participants in any form. Workshop participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the workshop at the discretion of the workshop organizers.
If a participant engages in harassing behaviour, event organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender or expulsion from the workshop. Event organisers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants.
We expect participants to follow these rules at all activities related to the workshop. If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible. Harassment and other code of conduct violations reduce the value of our event for everyone. You can make a personal report by contacting the outreach team at iqc-outreach@uwaterloo.ca .