How to fall in love with quantum physics?

We have a large number of St Petersburg schoolchildren, including those from educational institutions that have the engineering and technology profile. Our mission is to help them choose their future profession, and to ensure that they follow a promising path in science or industry.

Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions at St Petersburg University 

As part of the Quantum week, St Petersburg University held the first quantum hackathon for students. Five teams from leading technical universities of St Petersburg competed for the title of winner. Among the universities were the following: St Petersburg University, ITMO University, Peter the Great Polytechnic University, St Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation, and St Petersburg State Marine Technical University. During four hours, the participants were asked to solve three challenging tasks in the area of quantum computing, e.g. to develop quantum algorithms and implement them on quantum computer simulators. The tasks were developed by employees of the Quantum Optics Laboratory at St Petersburg University.

"The goal of the hackathon is to show students tasks that may benefit not only science, but also industry," commented Evgenii Vashukevich, Associate Professor in the Department of General Physics at St Petersburg University.

The Quantum week also featured events to develop cooperation between universities and representatives of the quantum technology industry. At the sessions, experts formulated production requests and professional criteria for graduates. The quantum sphere needs specialists who have a deep understanding of quantum mechanics and programming, but also are well equipped with engineering skills, said representatives of Gazprom, Gazpromneft, QRate, SMARTS‑Quanttelecom, and Infotecs.

"The Quantum week is a new ecosystem scientific and educational project by Rosatom- Quantum Technologies (OOO "Joint Venture 'Quant'"). It is set to introduce young people to quantum technologies and related professions that will be in demand in the very near future. What is more important is that we believe that by taking part in this project schoolchildren will make their choice in favour of physics, that is a fascinating science that will shape our future. We hope that university students, in their turn, will think more seriously about proceeding to a scientific and professional career in the field of quantum computing. We really appreciate that the key partner of our project in St Petersburg is St Petersburg University, one of the leading supporting universities of Rosatom and a member of the National Quantum Laboratory consortium," said Oleg Popov, Project Manager at OOO "Joint Venture 'Quant'".

Summing up the events, the experts agreed that in order to develop the quantum technology industry, it is necessary to support the concept of continuous education, including early and pre-profile career guidance. Yet, what remains the most important aspect, according to Valeria Kasamara, Deputy General Director of the Russian Quantum Centre for Educational Projects, is how to "inspire schoolchildren, teachers, and students fall in love with quantum physics."