Speakers

Astrid Bötticher has extensive research and teaching experience in the field of political science and security studies, with a particular focus on the interface of technology and society. She gained her academic qualifications at renowned universities in Germany and the Netherlands. Her research activities focus on critical areas such as radicalism, extremism, security in the digital age and the transformative potential of quantum technology.
Currently, Astrid Bötticher is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Political Science at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and actively contributes to various externally funded projects at the intersection of technology and societal impact. Her research activities focus on the preservation of freedom in the digital state and the innovative use of geographic information systems. Through her involvement in research, teaching, conferences and attracting external funding, she demonstrates her commitment to advancing our understanding of the complex relationship between technology, policy and society.
Her research excellence was recognised by her appointment as a Research Fellow at the University of Innsbruck. She founded the Quantum Humanities Network, which she currently leads and which is based at IQEL Innsbruck, where she is a Research Fellow. This network serves as a pan-European platform dedicated to exploring and harnessing the transformative potential of innovations in quantum technology and consolidates Astrid Bötticher's leadership in this evolving field.

What is exciting for me about the development of a quantum ecosystem?
Education is a cornerstone of the development of a successful quantum ecosystem. It plays a crucial role in nurturing the talent, skills, and knowledge needed to advance quantum technologies and ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem! How will we learn and work tomorrow? What do we need to do in order to develop interest, motivation, skills and training so that a quantum economy can become real?

What is my central goal for the development of a quantum ecosystem?
I think it is two-sided: Clear and supportive regulations and policies can create an environment conducive to innovation. Quantum technology is a global endeavor. Collaborating with international partners, sharing insights, and participating in joint projects is most important to me!

What can/may happen to build a sustainable quantum ecosystem?
Quantum technology is a frontier field with global implications. By contributing to the development of a quantum ecosystem, you have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact not only locally but also on a global scale. Educating the broader public about quantum technology can foster awareness, support, and interest in the field. This can lead to increased public and government support for research funding, infrastructure development, and policy initiatives.

Josie Meyer (she/her) is an NSF Graduate Research Fellow with the Physics Education Research Group at the University of Colorado Boulder (US). Originally trained as a quantum metrologist, Josie now studies the teaching and learning of quantum information science and quantum computing.
In addition to studying student reasoning and assessment in quantum computing, Josie is a core member of the education team at the Quantum Ethics Project, where she specializes in developing curricular materials to promote ethics and social responsibility within the quantum community. You can read more about her work hereExterner Link. Outside the office, Josie enjoys martial arts, gardening, board games, and hanging out with her two very silly tabby cats.

What is exciting for me about the development of a quantum ecosystem?
It is essential that industry and academia work together to build an inclusive and effective quantum education landscape. Developing a quantum ecosystem will help to forge the partnerships necessary to bring this vision to life.

What is my central goal for the development of a quantum ecosystem?
To build a landscape in which we can shape the culture of quantum toward one of inclusivity and social responsibility.

What can/may happen to build a sustainable quantum ecosystem?
Development and commercialization of quantum technologies will be a decades-long process. We must learn to value collaboration over geopolitical competitiveness and sustainability and social good over short-term profits.

Julia Hengster's scientific background is in the field of ultrashort pulse laser physics and its application in the investigation of nanoparticles. After completing her doctorate in physics in 2017 at the Institute of Experimental Physics at the University of Hamburg she developed in the direction of science management at the Fraunhofer IOF in Jena. Here she built up the cross-site graduate school Max Planck School of Photonics and heads the coordination team. Her aim is to equip international high potential students with the best training opportunities and conditions both in research, supervision and in personal training to prepare them for their career in academia, industry or founding their own start-up. The Max Planck School of Photonics hosts approx. 100 PhD candidates and unites top-tier research experts in photonics from institutions from all over Germany.

What is exciting for me about the development of a quantum ecosystem?
A dynamic and fast growing technology as quantum photonics requires highly qualified and specialized people. My focus of interest lies in the academic qualification of early career researchers and develop their skills sets and opportunities to equip researchers for their future careers.

What is my central goal for the development of a quantum ecosystem?
It's all about the people and especially learning ones. My goal is to design and create support programs to provide an environment of learning, development, and creativity to enable the persons to develop themselves and create networks of working together and go far beyond existing limits and reach new ones.

What can/may happen to build a sustainable quantum ecosystem?
The question in my opinion is what means sustainable and what are expectations towards an ecosystem. The have a common definition of both terms is a prerequisite for operating in the sense of society and acting to new regimes both technically but also socially.

Jose Hernandez Perez is currently the Digital Humanities Technology Specialist for the Research Computing Center at Florida State University. There he works in the Interdisciplinary Data Humanities Initiative, which instructs and assists humanities faculty and students in the use of High-Performance Computing tools for instruction and research. Before joining FSU, he earned a BA in History and an MA in Digital Studies of Language, Culture, and History from the University of Chicago. His current focus is to advance the integration of HPC tools within DH while developing effective methods for standardizing computer science education, particularly in specialized technical fields, (ex. HPC; quantum computing) into humanities, public policy, and other non-technically specialized curricula.

What is exciting for me about the development of a quantum ecosystem?
The most exciting aspect of the quantum ecosystem's development is its potential to provide access to emerging technology to a wider audience and breakthroughs across multiple fields of knowledge. I believe that we can make accessibility and understanding a key element of it’s development. In this way it would build upon current digital education initiatives, opening the door beyond the computer scientists and quantum physicists creating the foundations of quantum technology.  
When you can have many different fields together to expand an area of knowledge that is expected to have profound repercussions throughout our society, it is an exciting prospect indeed.

What is my central goal for the development of a quantum ecosystem?
My goal for the development of a quantum ecosystem is to provide the necessary tools and resources for individuals who wish to participate in its creation but lack a technical background in physics or computer science. By providing education standards to people in various fields, including humanities, law, and business, we can ensure that they comprehend the implications of quantum advancements and can utilize them effectively as we grow.

What can/may happen to build a sustainable quantum ecosystem?
Building a sustainable quantum ecosystem requires cohesive collaboration between the public and private sectors in multiple endeavors. Firstly, significant investment in technological infrastructure is necessary to push the frontiers of quantum technical development. Additionally, education must be a priority, catering not only to technologically savvy individuals but also to non-tech users who will be impacted by quantum technology in their respective fields.  
By making such investments and efforts, the quantum ecosystem can endure the typical ups and downs of emerging technology markets, ensuring progress doesn't regress to ground zero at the national level.