A new conference for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in quantum science aims to foster collaboration and provide a glimpse into the exciting research taking place in Canada.
Hosted jointly by the three Canada First Excellence Research Fund (CFREF) programs— the Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute (SBQMI), Institut Quantique (IQ), and Transformative Quantum Technologies (TQT)— the Canadian Graduate Quantum Conference runs June 20-22 at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver.
“This is a unique opportunity for students and researchers from across Canada to come together and share ideas around quantum research and innovation,” said Andrea Damascelli, scientific director of the Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute at UBC. “Too often we are faced with siloed research environments, and this is fantastic initiative towards breaking those barriers down.”
In addition to poster sessions, lab tours and networking sessions, the conference also includes an industry panel with speakers from Mitacs, D-Wave, 1QBit, and Lumerical Inc.
“As quantum technologies move from the lab to the market place, it’s important that students are exposed to industry leaders,” said Alexandre Blais, scientific director from Institut Quantique at Université de Sherbrooke. “This is a chance for both students and researchers to meet with key players in the quantum industry and explore possibilities for future collaborations.”
Organizers hope the success of the inaugural conference will lead to it becoming an annual event.
“Quantum information processing advances require a connected community of researchers exploring together materials, devices, control and applications,” said David Cory, Canada Excellence Research Chair Laureate in Quantum Information and Principal Investigator of TQT. “This conference is a powerful way to start building a community for quantum researchers across Canada.”