Quantum student conference defies flooding

On 24-28 June 2013, young quantum researchers came together from around the world despite flooding in Calgary, Alberta.

The 10th annual Canadian Quantum Information Students' Conference (CQISC) was hosted by the Institute for Quantum Science and Technology at the University of Calgary. Two members of the NSERC CREATE CryptoWorks21 training program attended the international graduate student conference as well as over 50 students travelling from 18 institutions across 4 continents.

The CQISC is an annual conference run by and for students working in quantum information sciences in Canada and around the world. It welcomes students from physics, mathematics, computer science, chemistry and engineering, helping to develop networks between quantum information researchers and institutes.

Participants are encouraged to present a talk or a poster to promote multidisciplinary learning among peers. The best oral presentation was awarded to Juan Miguel Arrazola from the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo. The best poster was awarded to Jeremy Witmer from the Institute for Quantum Science and Technology at the University of Calgary.

Despite severe flooding in Calgary, Alberta, the organizers remained organized and prepared throughout the conference ensuring both the safety of students and the comfort of visitors. Adel Sohbi, a graduate student from Telecom ParisTech, commented on the quick-thinking of the organizers who "reacted fast and kept contact with all of the students, prepared activities and changed the schedule promptly" while maintaining the quality of the conference. "It was both interesting and diversified even for a huge field like quantum information."

Source: IQST