Quantum Theory Group

Quantum Technology School

Save the date: To cope with demand in 2024 we will be running not one, but two Quantum Technology Schools! The event has grown steadily since its inception in 2018 and we are excited to partner with the University of Strathclyde to introduce a second QTS this year. Each will run over two days, will have a similar format to previous years, and will take place on campus. Schools would be offered a place at the University of Glasgow event (September 10th and 11th 2024) or at the University of Strathclyde event (September 12th and 13th 2024).

For teachers: For more information and/or to request places, please contact the QTS team on phas-qtschool@glasgow.ac.uk.

For pupils: please speak with your Physics or Computing Science teacher in the first instance and encourage them to contact us as above for more information.

About the Quantum Technology School:

‌Quantum technology is an exciting new interdisciplinary field, which aims to use quantum mechanical effects to improve performance over existing techniques, notably in information processing, communications, sensing and imaging. It has seen recent worldwide investment from both governments and industry, and is expected to provide new employment opportunities in the medium to long term.

The Quantum Technology School (QTS) is aimed at pupils studying Physics or Computing Science at Higher or Advanced Higher at the time of the School. In addition to highlighting this emerging field to both pupils and teachers, it is intended to give pupils who may be interested in continued study in Physics, Computing Science, or Engineering a flavour of University life.

The School features talks from researchers in the field, and hands-on taster sessions offered by the Schools of Physics and Astronomy, Computing Science, and Engineering at the University of Glasgow, and by the Department of Physics at the University of Strathclyde. Students learn about secure communication schemes that harness the laws of quantum physics to detect eavesdroppers, and explore aspects of cryptography, communication, and quantum technologies. In addition, participants have opportunities to hear from current undergraduate students, and have their questions about all aspects of further study answered by current undergraduates in a dedicated panel session.

The content is designed to be accessible to pupils currently studying the higher curriculum, and is not designed to solely target those already intending to take Physics/Computing/Engineering at University. We encourage all pupils to consider attending, no matter what your future plans are. We aim to provide an introduction to the exciting new field of Quantum Technology, and information about University life and career possibilities to help you make an informed choice.

QTS in previous years:

The University of Glasgow has been running a Quantum Technology School (QTS) since 2018. In our inaugural event we hosted over 80 pupils from 8 schools, growing to over 100 pupils from 16 schools in our second event in 2019. In 2020 and 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the QTS went online. Although this was not the format we would have chosen, it allowed us to significantly expand our reach, and pupils from schools spanning the length and breadth of Scotland took part. The remote version combined live online sessions in the evenings with hands-on activity packs distributed to participating schools for pupils to work on in the weeks before the live sessions. For a taste of what this involved, see QTS2021.

We were delighted to return in person in 2022, when we welcomed 170 pupils from 24 different schools to the University of Glasgow. With similar numbers in 2023 it was clear that we needed to explore the possibility of a second event, to cope with demand.

At the University of Glasgow the QTS is a collaboration between the School of Physics and Astronomy, the School of Computing Science, and the School of Engineering. We have also gratefully received support from QComm and QuantIC, two of the four national quantum hubs in previous years, and the EPSRC EPIQC project. At the University of Strathclyde the QTS will be led by the Department of Physics.

QTS organisers:

QTS is organised by Dr Peter Sneddon, Dr Sarah Croke, Dr Adetunmise Dada, and Dr Fiona Speirits at the University of Glasgow, with support from colleagues in Computing Science and Engineering; and by Dr Helen Vaughan and Professor Paul Griffin at the University of Strathclyde.