The exhibition “Quantum and ICMAB” has been an opportunity to open up the research carried out at the centre to society, to add to this year’s celebration of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. The exhibition is based on two main ideas:
First, to make science (even if abstract) more accessible to everyone, both conceptually and in terms of its current applications. Second, that despite the well-earned air of mystery surrounding quantum science, it is a field with many applications already present in our everyday lives. These two elements — fascination and applications — coexist in the exhibition.
In addition, the exhibition has created spaces for dialogue with researchers working in the superconductivity, molecular qubits and spintronics, the fields featured in the exhibition: Anna Palau, Lourdes Fábrega, Gervasi Herranz, Can Onur Avci, Núria Crivillers, and Elena Bartolomé.
One of these spaces is the radio. During October, coinciding with the opening of the exhibition, several researchers were interviewed on the Diga-li Ciència program on Ràdio 4 and on El Pou on Ràdio Sant Cugat.
Quantum Science and the “Quantum and ICMAB” Exhibition on Radio 4
Gervasi Herranz, Elena Bartolomé, and Anna Drou visited the Ràdio 4 studios earlier this month to present the exhibition, discuss quantum science, and talk about its effects on our daily lives in the Diga-li Ciència programme, with Núria Coll and Pere Buhigas.
“We are currently immersed in a Second Quantum Revolution, where the goal is not only to understand quantum nature but to use it in Quantum Technologies,” explained Elena Bartolomé.
And about the importance of quantum science in materials research, Gervasi Herranz commented:
“To describe new materials, it is extremely important to know their physical properties — how they behave under pressure, how they respond to light… To make progress in materials research, we must develop synthesis and fabrication methods, and we need to understand them. And to understand them — since their constituent blocks are molecules, ions, atoms — we need, to a greater or lesser extent, quantum physics.”
You can listen to the full interview here.
Spintronics, Superconductivity, and Molecular Qubits on El Pou at Ràdio Sant Cugat
Over three episodes, Lourdes Fábrega, Gervasi Herranz, and Núria Crivillers discussed their research lines and their current impact with Sara Bella, from Ràdio Sant Cugat, in the programme El Pou.
Superconductivity, with Lourdes Fábrega: discussing the peculiarities of superconductors, their presence in everyday life, high-temperature superconductors, and the exhibition.
Spintronics, with Gervasi Herranz: covering the electron’s spin, applications, achievements, and the future of the field.
Molecular Qubits, with Núria Crivillers: explaining the difference between qubits and classical bits, the various qubit platforms, and different elements on the exhibition.
Don't miss them!
Related articles:
“Quàntica i l’ICMAB” exhibition inaugurated at ICMAB to celebrate the International Year of Quantum
Visits to the "Quantum and ICMAB" exhibition
"Jane Dewey: Opportunities and difficulties of a woman scientist in the early years of quantum physics", by Adriana Minor
