The Quantum Generation: Students Chart Pathways to Quantum Future at QWC 2025

At the Quantum World Congress 2025, student voices took center stage in “The Quantum Generation: Pathways to Quantum 2025,” a dynamic main stage keynote highlighting the next wave of quantum leaders. Moderated by Professor Jessica Rosenberg of George Mason University, the panel featured high school students Horayn Gibson (Charles Herbert Flowers High School), Lara De (Langley High School), and Tewodros Abeje (Roosevelt High School), each sharing their transformative experiences in quantum education and research.

The session delved into a unique immersion program developed by George Mason University and Connected DMV, designed to introduce students to real-world quantum opportunities rather than abstract theory. Through site visits to leading quantum research centers such as UMD, MITER, NASA Quest Laboratory, and INA Solutions, the students discovered how quantum science intersects with diverse fields including AI, space exploration, and smart infrastructure.

Participants described how hands-on experiments and interdisciplinary approaches dispelled initial apprehensions about quantum concepts, emphasizing the need for quantum education to reach high schools in engaging and accessible ways. The students also showcased research posters that connected quantum technologies to STEM interests, such as quantum gravimeters for coastal defense and quantum retrieval augmented generation in AI.

The panelists called for broader funding and support, stressing the importance of building a strong quantum workforce and integrating quantum lessons into classrooms early. They asserted that quantum skills are vital not just for aspiring scientists, but for all students confronting future challenges in climate change, cybersecurity, and technological innovation.

As Professor Rosenberg concluded, fostering the quantum generation is not only about new technology, but about empowering the people who will shape the future.

Reference/Source:

Quantum World Congress 2025 Keynote – The Quantum Generation: Pathways to Quantum 2025.