Quantum Science Camp

Depositphotos_45794641_XL-Quantum-Wave

July 15-26, 2024

The Quantum Science Summer Camp is a unique opportunity for high school students and their teachers who are energized to study and use quantum science.

Taught by professors and scientists from Texas A&M University’s Institute for Quantum Science & Engineering, the camp will delve into selected principles of quantum science in the first week and in applications of quantum science in the second week. Science and the scientific method of investigation will underscore the process used by students to give scientific validity to their work in the classroom, laboratory, and group settings. Special guest lecturers include members from the National Academy of Sciences and other world-renowned scientific organizations.

The opportunity for students and teachers to learn from leading researchers, scientists, and professionals in the field of quantum science brings a level of learning and interaction to the Quantum Science Summer Camp that is world-class.

The camp includes an opportunity for a limited number of current high school or college instructors to attend and reinforce their knowledge of selected topics in quantum science and from added live activities. Teachers are encouraged to invite interested students to attend the camp.

The general public is welcome and encouraged to attend the daily lecture from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. each weekday in the Loftin Life Science Center, Room 209.

Students and teachers apply today:

Applications received by April 30, 2024 will be given priority.

 

  • The camp will accept 32 high school students and 16 high school teachers.  Each teacher is encouraged to invite students to the camp.  Both teachers and students need to complete applications.  Each application should refer to the other, as appropriate.
  • Teachers will receive a stipend of $100 per day for the 10 days of the camp.

Topics of Learning

Students will gain experience working in teams, presenting ideas, concepts, and results in a group setting, and will see the scientific method of investigation, exploration, discovery, and validation at work.

 

  • Is matter made of particles and/or waves? What are they? What do they do? How do they interact? How or why does it matter? How does quantum physics differ from traditional or classical physics?
  • Quantum uncertainty. Can you know where something is and how it’s moving?
  • Quantum eraser. Can you erase or change the past?
  • Quantum superposition, entanglement and teleportation. Can something be in two places at the same time?
  • Quantum computing. A perfect security system needs an unbreakable code.
  • What is quantum science and how does it impact our lives today?
  • How has quantum science increased our understanding of cellular systems and processes of living organisms?

 

Location

The Quantum Science Summer Camp is being held at Casper College in Casper, Wyoming, located 4.5 hours north of Denver. If traveling by air, refer to the Natrona County International Airport, CPR, with connections from both Salt Lake City, Utah, and Denver. The airport is located just 15 minutes by taxi from the college.

Cost

The Quantum Science Summer Camp is funded through donations from the Wold Foundation; Zimmerman Family Foundation; John P. Ellbogen Foundation; Kemmi Creek Foundation; McMurry Foundation; Tate Foundation; Wyoming Community Foundation; and in partnership with the Institute for Quantum Science & Engineering at Texas A&M University; Texas A&M University; Princeton University; members of the RISE HUB consortium; Casper College; and the Natrona County School District.

For those selected to attend the Quantum Science Summer Camp, these generous donations make it possible for tuition and on-campus housing and dining expenses to be free for students during the camp program. Students needing travel assistance should send their request to Dr. Bob Brick at rbrick@tamu.edu.

Travel Assistance

Limited funding is available for travel expenses. If travel funding assistance is needed for participation in the Casper Quantum Science Camp, please follow these steps:

1. Send the following information to Mr. Teng Ma at tengma@tamu.edu as soon as possible prior to your travel.

a. Your preferred mode of travel, eg. automobile, airline
b. Your preferred point of departure to Casper and final destination after Casper
c. A completed liability waiver form (attached)
d. A completed Substitute Form W-9 and Direct Deposit Authorization (attached)

2. Mr. Ma will arrange an airline flight plan and purchase tickets for you. Do not make your own flight plan or purchase tickets.

3. If traveling by automobile, your mileage will be reimbursed at the standard Federal rate based upon distance travelled.

Teng Ma is also available at 979-845-0579 if necessary.

Quantum Science Camp Laser Beam
Quantum Science Camp Laser Beam
Marlan Scully Photo

Quantum Science Camp Director

Marlan Scully was born in Casper and attended both Casper College and the University of Wyoming. He finished his undergraduate studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and later received his Ph.D. at Yale University. He went on to teach at Texas A&M, Princeton University, and developed a lab at the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative. With over 700 scientific articles, many patents, and two textbooks in laser physics and quantum optics, he is highly regarded among the scientific community and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Every summer, for more than 20 years, Scully has held a summer conference at Casper College on quantum physics, quantum computing, quantum biophotonics, and other advanced quantum science topics. The attendees come from all around the world and typically include the top scientists or researchers in their fields and their students. Nobel Prize laureates and members of the National Academy of Sciences have been featured among conference participants. They come to Casper because of the variety of top scientists who gather here and because Scully makes sure they have a great experience.

M. Suhail Zubairy

Lead Instructor

M. Suhail Zubairy is a distinguished professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Texas A&M University and the inaugural holder of the Munnerlyn-Heep Chair in Quantum Optics. He has made pioneering contributions in the fields of quantum computing, laser physics, and quantum optics. He has authored and co-authored several books and over 300 research papers on a wide variety of research problems relating to theoretical physics. His research and work have been widely recognized by the physics community and he has won many international awards. His book, “Quantum Mechanics for Beginners” — Oxford University Press, May 2020 — is written for someone with only a high school background in physics and mathematics to introduce them to the fascinating world of quantum mechanics. The book includes an introduction to the fields of quantum communication and quantum computing.

Our Partners

Institute for Quantum Science & Engineering at Texas A&M University

Princeton University

Casper College

Natrona County Schools

Members of the RISE HUB

University of Illinois

Colorado State University

Cornell University

Stanford Linear Accelerator National Laboratory

Funding Assistance Provided by:

Wyoming Community Foundation

Wold Foundation

Zimmerman Family Foundation

John P. Ellbogen Foundation

Kemmi Creek Foundation 

McMurry Foundation

Tate Foundation

Rocky Mountain Power Foundation