Women in Quantum Symposium

Background: Dr. Sanja Djurdjić Mijin is a quantum physicist specializing in two-dimensional materials, quantum photonics, and Raman spectroscopy. She earned her PhD in Physics from the University of Belgrade, where she received the Institute of Physics Award for the best doctoral dissertation in 2022. She has held research positions at leading institutions, including Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the Institute of Physics in Belgrade, and actively contributes to international projects funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and NATO’s Science for Peace and Security Programme. Her work focuses on engineering quantum light sources and exploring strain effects in layered materials, with the goal of advancing quantum technologies for sensing, communication, and computing.

Title: 'Who’s Winning the Quantum Race? A Deep Dive into Quantum Computing Today'

Brief description: As the second quantum revolution moves closer to reality, we are getting an inch closer to realizing the full potential of quantum technologies, promising a future that transcends the limitations of the present digital era. This talk offers a clear and accessible introduction to quantum computing—what it is, how it differs from classical computing, and why it holds transformative potential. We will explore the fundamental building block of quantum computers: the qubit. From superconducting circuits and trapped ions to photonics, neutral atoms, and topological qubits, each approach offers unique advantages and faces distinct challenges. Who is leading the charge—Google, IBM, Microsoft, or perhaps a stealth-mode startup? How do we evaluate "winning" in this context: by qubit count, fidelity, error correction, scalability, or real-world applicability?

We’ll unpack the latest breakthroughs and examine the growing ecosystem of quantum computing. Drawing from real-world research and the most current data, the talk will illuminate where we stand now and what milestones lie ahead. This talk will provide a grounded, up-to-date map of the quantum computing landscape and the global race shaping its future.

Background: Julia Cramer (assistant professor at Leiden University) is a quantum physicist and science communication researcher, interested in the boundary between fundamental science and society. She is fascinated about communicating science to the (non-obvious) publics. Her research focuses on topics such as popularisation of quantum, hype, evidence-based outreach and metaphors. Cramer is founder of Women in Quantum Development (WIQD) in The Netherlands, and is active in various boards and committees related to physics and academia.

Title: 'Entanglement between quantum and society'

Brief description: The current ‘second quantum revolution’ promises dramatic technological changes for society. While there is clearly an international push to quantum research and development, it also comes with societal responsibility. Now is the time to involve society. Understanding the concerns, questions and acceptance within societal groups will help to increase the societal relevance of quantum technology, as we will know in an early stage what specific groups in society need and expect from this new technology.

The ambition of my research group Quantum and Society at Leiden University is that social engagement, both of the quantum community towards society, and of society towards quantum technology, should be increased and improved in a well-considered way. In this talk I will discuss the urge for and implications of research on quantum and society from a science communication perspective. I will discuss some of our research findings of our research group, such as the result of a framing-study on TEDx talks and news articles about quantum, findings on metaphors around quantum and our findings of a quantum exhibition at a large music festival in The Netherlands. I will also discuss what it means to me to be a woman and visible role model in quantum in The Netherlands.