Quantum Summer Camp returns for second year at UTC

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Quantum Summer Camp returned for the second year June 15-18, offering high school students in grades 10 through 12 the opportunity to explore the world of quantum through lab tours, talks with professors and scientific demonstrations that bring science to life.

UC Foundation Professor of Physics Tatiana Allen emphasized the importance of introducing the next generation to quantum physics and computing.

“They will see pictures and meet the people, go to EPB, see the quantum computers and see the quantum network,” Allen said. “We showed them some quantum physics experiments. We gave them some demonstrations. It’s a first introduction to physics, math and quantum computing.”

She encouraged students to conduct their own research to deepen their understanding of the concepts.

For rising UTC senior Gracie Crooks, the camp is a way to help high school students in a position similar to the one she was in a few years earlier. She praised UTC as a place to learn about quantum topics, recalling that the transition into the subject was difficult.

“It’s a good thing to get these kids interested in it,” Crooks said, “You never know what you want to do if you don’t see it at some point. I would have never known that I wanted to do math or physics if I hadn’t seen it and come here.

“I really like helping the kids understand these topics because they were new to me. I know that these kids probably feel like they’re getting information that feels like they’re drinking water out of a fire hose, but it felt that way to me. I had a year to learn it; these concepts are hard, and just getting this foundation early is really important.”

For rising high school senior Cherokee Ellison, the camp provides an opportunity to expand his passion for science.

“When I grow up, I want to be an astrophysicist,” Ellison said. “I’ve always been very passionate about science. I’m trying to get better with my math and that’s why I joined this program. I thought it’d be a good chance to get a bit of the college experience and meet new people. I’m really enjoying it.”

The experiments and demonstrations were his favorite part of the camp experience.

Luke Loeffler, a rising junior at Baylor School, also said the experiments were his favorite part.

“I enjoyed doing the experiments when we were in the lab earlier today, seeing how all that stuff really comes to life and not just slides on a screen,” Loeffler said.

Dr. Tian Li’s Quantum Optics Lab was among the many areas on campus that campers explored. Li is a UC Foundation assistant professor of physics and CTO of the UTC Quantum Center.

Postdoctoral Research Associate Hari Lamsal led students on a tour of the lab.

“I enjoy talking to them and many of them were so enthusiastic,” Lamsal said. “They asked some good questions and that curiosity is really good to see.

“With quantum being such a big deal these days, and rightly so, there are still many things to explore in it. The field is still not saturated. It needs many more people.”

Crooks hopes to be a professor one day and knows the value of these concepts for future college students.

“This technology is going to come,” she said. “It’s going to change a lot of the standards that we have in place. For kids growing up now, a lot of things that are difficult for people to understand, like the concept of being zero and one simultaneously, are new concepts. We learned zero and one.”

Loeffler added that quantum is a relevant topic locally and that the camp will help him understand the future impact on Chattanooga.

“There’s a ton of stuff going on with quantum and how it could be important,” he said. “I just wanted to get some background information, what it was and how quantum computing works, and a little bit of quantum physics.”

Allen hopes this camp will spark curiosity about the subject.

“Quantum is the future of the workforce and the future of technology,” she said.

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