The 2018 National Quantum Initiative Act recognized the importance of strategic, federally coordinated support for quantum information science and engineering (QISE) research to maintain economic competitiveness, sustain national security, and fuel transformative scientific advancement. This immediately accelerated the pace of an already rapidly advancing field and, consequently, surged the demands for trained quantum engineers.
To satisfy these workforce needs and remain globally competitive, the U.S. must train an increasing number of quantum engineers and scientists. This requires reaching beyond the existing pipelines and providing equal resources to a broader range of communities. Success relies on recognizing the critical role and understanding the barriers faced by Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), which train a disproportionately large number of underrepresented students who earn bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields. To this end, a series of NSF-funded workshops entitled Supporting Minority Serving Institutions in the Creation of a Diverse, Quantum-Ready Workforce have been designed to prescribe a strategy to help broaden participation in QISE.
The first workshop was held virtually, hosted at the Colorado School of Mines on April 8-9, 2022. Topics included:
• a presentation of flourishing QISE research at MSIs,
• identifying strengths and obstacles faced by MSIs in participating in quantum research and developing specialized QISE programs,
• protocols to gain access to nationwide facilities offering specialized equipment for quantum research,
• development of specialized quantum courses and academic programs, and
• opportunities to develop strategic partnerships with industry.
The second workshop will be held at the University of the District of Columbia on July 12-13, 2023. Sessions include:
• industry opportunities in QISE,
• educational resources (including experimental toolkits) to assist with starting new courses,
• new educational QISE programs, and
• QISE funding opportunities for MSIs and PUIs.
MSIQISEWorkshop_agenda (PDF)
For more information, please contact prof. Serena Eley at serename@uw.edu.
