【Activities Report】Introductory Course and Practical Workshop in Quantum Computing

AIC held two events related to quantum computing in August 2024: an introductory course from August 5–6 and a practical workshop from August 8–9. Quantum computers are a type of computer with many highly anticipated applications that operate based on the principles of quantum mechanics. This technology forms the core of a relatively new academic field called “quantum information” which combines the physical phenomena described by quantum mechanics with the information sciences. Far from being confined to academic spaces for quantum computing, however, these intersections of possibility have elicited excitement and impressive investments from corporations for their applications and real-world implementations. This attention has prompted top-level educational institutions in Japan to allocate resources to train expert personnel in this field among other efforts.

However, quantum computing also requires an incredible amount of prerequisite knowledge to fully grasp, presenting an enormous hurdle for newcomers to the field. This was the motivation behind AIC hosting these workshops, to provide a space for students unfamiliar with quantum computers to hear lectures that would give them a rough breakdown of the technology in a short period of time.

The workshops gave holistic breakdowns for students of various academic backgrounds to help them understand the current state of quantum computing, the fundamental ideas and concepts of quantum mechanics that relate to quantum computers, and other information to help fill in conceptual gaps in these topics. The workshops also incorporated hands-on seminars to help facilitate students’ understanding.

AIC was thrilled to see how this workshop expanded students’ perspectives and interests in the field and hopes that it will inspire them to pursue further studies in the future.