Graduate student volunteers awarded for outstanding contributions to scientific outreach

By Naomi Grosman

Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) PhD students and outreach volunteers María Rosa Preciado Rivas and Benjamin MacLellan have received the 2025 David Johnston Award for Scientific Outreach for their outstanding commitment to scientific outreach and community engagement. 

The award, valued at $2,500 each, was created in honour of David Johnston, University of Waterloo’s president from 1999 to 2010, for his vital contributions to IQC. 

IQC congratulates Preciado Rivas and MacLellan for their outstanding contributions and playing a crucial role in sparking the public's curiosity about scientific research, and quantum science and technology. 

PhD student, Institute for Quantum Computing 
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo 
Perimeter Institute Quantum Intelligence Lab 

Benjamin MacLellan’s enthusiasm for science was sparked in high school, thanks to a teacher who balanced academic rigour with a healthy dose of fun. His passion for instilling that in others blossomed through his outreach volunteering at the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo and Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. 

At IQC, McLellan built strong ties with high school science educators to introduce students to quantum concepts, and he became a familiar face in high school classrooms. 

“Quantum theories can be philosophical and interesting in that regard, but they also lead to meaningful experimental research,” MacLellan says. “Explaining quantum science to someone outside the field can make you a better scientist because it forces you to clarify your thinking and articulate how ideas connect. Outreach helps me instill curiosity in others because there is an enormous amount that we still don’t understand.” 

He is defending his PhD research next week, after which he will work full-time in a technical role at quantum startup Ki3 Photonics. He will also continue outreach activities through the non-profit organization Open Quantum Design (OQD), an open-source, full stack quantum computing platform run by his PhD supervisor Dr. Roger Melko, IQC faculty Drs. Rajibul Islam and Crystal Senko, professors, Department of Physics and Astronomy, and CEO Greg Dick.

PhD student, Institute for Quantum Computing 
Department of Applied Math, and the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics, University of Waterloo 

María Rosa Preciado Rivas didn’t meet a female scientist until she started her undergraduate degree at Yachay Tech University in Ecuador. Joining IQC's team of outreach volunteers in 2023, she became inspired to be the role model for budding scientists she didn’t have growing up. 

Beyond reaching young science enthusiasts, she has found that introducing quantum science at a basic level also engages parents, packing more punch in each outreach activation. 

“I’m thankful for the recognition and hope more people join IQC’s outreach team because it’s not just fun; it feels like I’m making a difference,” Preciado Rivas says. “Science communication skills are useful beyond engaging the public. As a quantum information researcher, it’s easy to develop tunnel vision on niche topics but outreach helps me take a step back, see the bigger picture and use these communication skills to explain complex concepts to professors and peers outside my research area.” 

When Preciado Rivas joined the University of Waterloo, she hadn’t planned for an academic career in quantum information science. What felt confusing about the discipline during her undergraduate degree became clearer during her quantum information courses at Waterloo. 

Having the right tools to comprehend and learn about quantum mechanics made her “fall in love with quantum” and change her field of study. 

Now she’s in her last year of PhD studies in Applied Math. Her research focuses on how quantum mechanics and general relativity intersect revealing fascinating phenomena that could inform what advantage quantum computers could have over classical. 

Every year, dozens of IQC graduate student outreach volunteers help the institute connect with thousands of people, raising public awareness of quantum science and technology. The enthusiastic group of students actively supports a range of community initiatives and popular annual programs. These include the Quantum School for Young Students (QSYS), the Undergraduate School on Experimental Quantum Information Processing (USEQIP), and Quantum for Educators (QEd). Whether participants aim to expand their personal knowledge or pursue academic and professional opportunities, the support of IQC’s outreach volunteers helps provide valuable pathways to the world of quantum science.