Quantum science is revolutionizing the way we understand and interact with the world, and provides the basis for groundbreaking advancements in computing, simulation, sensing, communication, and security. As the field grows, so too does the need for a workforce that understands its power and significance.
To address this challenge, Stony Brook University hosted the International Year of Quantum 2025 Educational Leadership Conference on March 12 to discuss the future of quantum education.
Sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and led by three faculty members from Stony Brook’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and Institute for STEM Education (I-STEM), the Quantum Education for Students and Teachers (QuEST) conference brought more than 150 K-12 school district administrators, teachers, and university and STEM education partners to the Stony Brook Hilton Garden Inn. The conference provided an opportunity for attendees to discuss the future of quantum information science and technology (QIST) education.
Angela Kelly, professor of physics and STEM education, described the conference’s goal — to prepare the next generation of quantum scientists, engineers and industry professionals. “Our main theme today is that forming students’ career aspirations will lead to workforce development. By inspiring students while they’re in high school, middle school, even elementary school, we can prepare them for the quantum workforce.”
“Quantum science is really a study of what is happening at the submicroscopic level or near absolute-zero temperature, and we are normally unfamiliar with what’s happening at that level, because we cannot directly observe it. But right now, we’re undergoing a quantum computing revolution,” Kelly said. “What quantum computing can do can vastly expand our capacity and our computing power.”
Kelly added that it will take time because the current quantum computers are very noisy and their results are still not accurate. “What we need now is to develop pre-college students’ interest in quantum science, so that 5, 10, 20 years from now, when these revolutions are really taking hold in our society, they are the workforce who are going to harness their incredible potential.”
Quantum information science and technology is rapidly emerging as a field, with more than 2,000 job openings in the region and 200 employers actively seeking talent. Kelly noted that advanced degrees are not required for many positions in the field, which require only a bachelor’s degree or lower. Companies like IBM and JPMorgan Chase are leading employers in QIST in New York State.
Stony Brook University Executive Vice President and Provost Carl Lejuez spoke of Stony Brook’s commitment to quantum education and research. “This is not just another thing we do,” Lejuez said. “This is one of the signature things we do.”
Lejuez highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the work being done, with experts from physics, engineering, and computing, as well as K-12 educators, working together to ensure a seamless academic background that prepares students for careers in QIST. He pointed to Stony Brook’s strategic plan, “Our Moment,” which emphasizes the university’s role in transforming educational experiences. “When we say we are transforming education, it’s a responsibility we take seriously. It means reimagining the way we engage with our community, our students, and our industry partners to ensure we are driving research innovation and preparing the workforce of the future.”
As part of the broader International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (designated by the United Nations in recognition of 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics), the conference described Stony Brook’s QIST efforts alongside global quantum advancements. Keynote speaker Shadi Sandvik, SUNY vice chancellor for research, innovation, and economic development, described the growing demand for a quantum-skilled workforce.
“We are already living in a quantum world,” Sandvik explained, listing technologies such as LEDs, MRI machines, and lasers, all of which rely on quantum mechanics, and reinforced the interdisciplinary nature of quantum applications. “We need physicists, chemists, engineers, and even professionals in marketing and sales who understand quantum concepts. It’s not just about research; it’s about making quantum technology accessible and applicable.”
Sandvik highlighted the role of SUNY in scaling quantum education, noting that the state’s university system offers 106 unique quantum courses and has already enrolled nearly 90,000 students in AI, semiconductor, and quantum-related programs. “To meet the demand for quantum talent, we must think at scale,” she said. “SUNY has the reach and the infrastructure to make a real impact.”
Throughout the conference, speakers reinforced the impacts of quantum technology. Chang Kee Jung, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, emphasized the university’s leadership in quantum education. “As we navigate this emerging, exciting, and complex field, it is crucial to have visionary leaders who not only understand the science but also the broader educational mission,” Jung said.
Tzu-Chieh Wei, professor of physics, offered attendees an introduction to the working principles, capabilities and limitations of quantum computers. He illustrated how they can vastly outperform classical computers in factorization and encryption, and pointed to a broad range of future applications ranging from financial modeling to drug development. Wei also demonstrated how educators can engage students not only with basic quantum science topics but by letting them program existing quantum computers.
“Quantum computing is interdisciplinary by nature,” he explained. “Students can approach it through physics, chemistry, computer science, and even engineering.”
Dominik Schneble, professor of physics, gave vivid insights into the physical concepts underlying the operation of quantum computers. Recalling properties of waves familiar to high school students, he revisited those properties from the perspective of a photon, a single quantum particle of a light wave, to draw some surprising conclusions. He then told two “entanglement tales” featuring a single photon, a meowing cat, and two observers separated by walls, thereby exposing the audience to the exotic notions of quantum superposition, entanglement, measurement, and decoherence.
“If you replace the cat and the observers by much simpler things such as qubits, cool the whole setup down and isolate it from the outside, you have a basic quantum processor,” Schneble said. “Inside this processor, you can see the strangeness of the quantum world along with the profound philosophical questions that it poses to us.”
Eden Figueroa, Stony Brook Presidential Innovation Endowed Professor and director of the Center for Distributed Quantum Processing, discussed his team’s efforts in building a quantum network on Long Island. “We are literally changing space and time as we transmit entanglement,” Figueroa said, describing his work in establishing a quantum internet. This initiative leverages Long Island’s existing fiber optic infrastructure to connect quantum systems, with plans to expand the network to New York City and beyond. “Nowhere else in the United States is this happening at this scale, and it’s happening right here in our backyard.”
Figueroa called on educators in the audience to inspire their students to become part of this quantum movement. “We need a workforce. We need students. We need you to motivate the high schoolers so they eventually come and work with us.”
Vincent Pereira, director of science in the Freeport School District on Long Island, expressed his appreciation for Stony Brook’s outreach and assistance in creating a high school quantum elective course, offered for the first time this year in Freeport. “Freeport is very grateful to Stony Brook for teaching us a lot of the quantum information science syllabus that we are using. Their workshops were extremely helpful, and I continually reach out to them for a number of questions, and they always answer me properly. As we go and dig deeper into the advancement of this curriculum, we look forward to future collaborations.”
“As someone who dreams of designing cutting-edge machinery also, or solving forensic mysteries, I realized that the knowledge of quantum mechanics is like finding a secret stash of power-ups in a video game, whether it’s crafting advanced engineering solutions or unlocking the mysteries of the universe,” said Freeport junior Lober Cervantes Alayo of his experience with the quantum course offered in his school. “Quantum physics gives me the toolkit to engage with my future studies and career.”
An objective of the conference was providing K-12 educators with the tools and resources needed to integrate quantum topics into their curriculum. The conference also highlighted Stony Brook’s ongoing STEM and QIST initiatives, including summer camps for high school students, professional development programs for teachers, and collaborative initiatives with Brookhaven National Laboratory.
“We are at a pivotal moment,” said Lejuez. “It’s up to us to ensure that the next generation has the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to lead in this transformative field.”
— Beth Squire
I found the conference on quantum education fascinating! The discussions about the future of quantum technology and its applications were particularly enlightening. It’s exciting to see Stony Brook University leading in this area. Looking forward to more events like this!