Thursday, December 21, 2017 (Ottawa, Ontario) – An exhibition on quantum technologies from the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) is captivating curious minds at the newly reopened Canada Science and Technology Museum.
QUANTUM: The Exhibition, which opened to the public this weekend, is an interactive exploration of the science of the very small. The installation showcases how quantum technologies will revolutionize computers, information security, medicine and geographical exploration.
“The quantum revolution will change the way that we experience our world by advancing beyond our current understanding of light waves, particles, time and space and opening our minds to a range of new possibilities,” said Kevin Resch, interim director of IQC. “The likely impacts of quantum discoveries are so wide-ranging that the countries that lead the race in quantum research will lead the future of science and technology.”
The exhibition is the world’s first-ever travelling show on quantum information science and technology. Before arriving in Ottawa, it toured Canada for 18 months, making stops in Kitchener, Vancouver, Saskatoon, Calgary and Halifax.
“Over 155,000 people across the country have experienced the quantum world and Ottawa is the last stop on our Canadian tour,” said Tobi Day-Hamilton, director of communications and strategic initiatives at IQC. “We are excited to showcase the emerging quantum technologies that will shape our future during our time in the nation’s capital.”
At the exhibition, hands-on activities and multimedia games help make quantum science more accessible for visitors. Guests will receive a glimpse into some exciting quantum technologies on the horizon and leave with a new perspective on how the world works.
“We are thrilled to host QUANTUM: The Exhibition at the new Canada Science and Technology Museum,” said Fern Proulx, interim president and CEO of Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation. “QUANTUM: The Exhibition is the perfect complement to the Museum’s new interactive exhibitions that explore the creativity and human ingenuity that drive scientific and technological discovery.”
The exhibition is part of Innovation150, the government’s signature sesquicentennial initiative celebrating Canadian innovation. It is on until April 2, 2018, at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.
About the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo
The Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) is a world-leading research centre in quantum information science and technology at the University of Waterloo. IQC’s mission is to develop and advance quantum information science and technology through interdisciplinary collaboration at the highest international level. Enabled by IQC’s unique infrastructure, the world’s top experimentalists and theorists are making powerful new advances in fields spanning quantum computing, communications, sensors and materials. IQC’s award-winning outreach opportunities foster scientific curiosity and discovery among students, teachers and the community.
University of Waterloo is Canada’s top innovation university. With more than 36,000 students we are home to the world's largest co-operative education system of its kind. Our unmatched entrepreneurial culture, combined with an intensive focus on research, powers one of the top innovation hubs in the world.
About Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation
Launched in June 2017, Ingenium is a new national brand established to preserve and share Canada’s story of scientific and technological heritage. This corporate brand, which celebrates ingenuity, encompasses three national institutions—the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Under the Ingenium brand, these three museums are places where the past meets the future, with spaces where visitors can learn and explore, play, and discover. Ingenium also has an eye to the future with a state-of-the-art Collections Conservation Centre under construction, digital and social media platforms, and travelling national and international exhibitions to educate, entertain and engage audiences across Canada and around the world.