QITS (Quantum in the Summer) 2024 welcomed A-level students to QET Labs at the University of Bristol for a week of theoretical and experimental sessions, all related to the field of quantum technology. The programme covered a wide range of topics, from principles such as superposition and entanglement right through to the applications of quantum technology in computing and metrology. Through lectures, games, team puzzles and solving problems, we were impressed with how quickly the students grasped the concepts and demonstrated their knowledge through asking lots of excellent questions!
The final session of the week was a careers panel, discussing different possible careers following a Physics degree. The panel consisted of Boris Braverman (Oxford Quantum Circuits), Laura Hiscott (freelance writer and editor), Giulia Rubino (QET Labs), and previous QITS organiser Dr Brian Flynn (Phasecraft). Students were able to ask questions about the panellists' career trajectory, life goals, experience of life in industry and academia, and experience of their degrees and higher education.
In the evening students attended social activities (paid for by the summer school) including visiting a boardgame cafe, a boat tour, an escape room, and a night of laughs and talent at the first Quantum Carousel event. This allowed the students to get to know one another outside of the lectures and academic sessions, with one student commenting on how quickly they’d been able to make friends at QITS.
Over the course of ten years, QITS has welcomed 163 students, with the help of 115 helpers who all volunteered their time to organise, run session and give lab tours. We've also been supported by 15 different sponsors.
We are grateful for the funding that allowed us to make this such a positive experience for students, including sponsorship from QET Labs, QTIC, Phasecraft, QCS hub and the IOP:CPG.
We hope that we've helped inspire a new generation of quantum physicists!
This year's summer school was organised by Quantum Engineering CDT and QET Labs PhD students Freddie Burns, Susan Chen, Chris Corlett, Imogen Forbes, Meagan Hough and Zulekha Samiullah, supported by QET Labs Senior Research Administrator Holly Caskie. In addition, over 25 volunteers from QET Labs and the CDT ran sessions and organised experiments. An enormous thank you to all involved for helping to make this year's summer school such a success!