Sandia employees teaching quantum science to the next generation

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — QCaMP is returning to New Mexico for its third year, with the goal of inspiring the next generation of scientists in the rapidly growing field of quantum science.

Scientists from Sandia National Laboratories, in collaboration with instructors from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, will teach New Mexico high schoolers and teachers the fundamentals of quantum computing. The program will help participants understand the often perplexing phenomena of quantum physics through hands-on activities and apply them to computing problems in new ways.

QCaMP, which stands for Quantum Computing, Mathematics and Physics became one of the first programs of its type in the country when it was created in 2022 by Sandia employees Megan Ivory and Jake Douglass. The program, which started as a virtual-only camp, has grown into an in-person four-week camp for students and a three-day camp for teachers.

“To date, we have taught 36 teachers and 84 students, with plans to reach another 79 teachers and 44 students in 2024,” Ivory said. “QCaMP aims to reduce barriers into quantum science through a hands-on concepts-first approach.”

The program also provides a paid stipend to participants ensuring they don’t have to choose between working a summer job and learning about science. The camp was made possible with the help of partners across New Mexico, including Los Alamos National Laboratory, the University of New Mexico and the Computer Science Alliance.

This year’s student camp is being held July 1 – 26 in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and in the Bay Area of California. The teacher’s camp was held earlier in June.