George Mason Continues to Prepare Students for a New Era of Innovation
Quantum science may operate at the tiniest scales of the universe, but its potential to reshape our world is anything but small.
To prepare the next generation for a quantum-powered future, George Mason University once again hosted the Pathways to Quantum Immersion Program, preparing high school students for careers in this rapidly emerging field.
The program welcomed rising seniors mostly from across the Washington, D.C. metro area but extending as far as Chesapeake, VA for an immersive, two-part experience: a two week-long virtual course covering the fundamentals of quantum science, followed by an in-person week centered at the Mason Fairfax campus. During the in-person experience students engaged with hands-on learning and saw how quantum concepts are already shaping the world around them and visited leading institutions in research, technology, policy.
“Before this experience, I always associated 'quantum' with quantum physics,” said participant Benjamin Fu. “But I’ve learned that quantum technologies power many of the applications and systems we rely on every day,”
The program is led by Jessica Rosenberg, Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Director of Education at George Mason’s Quantum Science and Engineering Center, and Nancy Holincheck, Associate Professor in the College of Education and Human Development and Associate Director of the Center for Social Equity Through Science Education.
"We focus on the concepts, applications, and career opportunities," said Rosenberg. "If we can get these students interested, there will be plenty of time for them to dive into the math and other details that you need to really pursue the field. We want to give them a feel for why it is interesting and important so that they consider taking that next step in a field that can be challenging. We also make sure to introduce them to a lot of people with a lot of different backgrounds and experiences to show them the variety of ways they can engage with and make an impact in the field."
Both Rosenberg and Holincheck guided students this summer through interactive sessions and field experiences, with many participants citing the visits as a highlight. For Fu, the visit to the MITRECorporation left a lasting impression.
“I met so many working professionals and I admire their curiosity and how well they communicate their expertise,” he said. “They have to work closely with government agencies and serve as a bridge between academic research and real-world policy and I could definitely see myself doing something like that in the future.”
Fellow participant Laura De also liked visiting MITRE. “I’m interested in industry-based applications of quantum and so seeing how people in the workforce implement the technologies, outside of academia, was the coolest thing. I think seeing that helped me envision doing that in the future.”
Colette Cookson described the visit to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center as the highlight of her experience, where she witnessed aerospace engineering in action and saw the massive machinery used in final-stage rocket testing. The students were shown how the facility uses vibration, sound, and extreme temperatures to ensure a rocket is sound before sending it to space. “I didn’t realize how many people were involved in making a single launch possible and that each step had its own specialist come in to do their part. There’s a lot of collaboration and interdisciplinary work.”
Rosenberg and Holincheck also took participants through George Mason’s labs and let them see some of the work being done by current George Mason students.
“I had no idea George Mason had so many resources or was investing this much in STEM,” said Cookson. “Every lab we visited was amazing and it was cool to hear the postdocs talk about their research. One was working on something they said they hoped could cure cancer.”
For Avanthika Thodupunuri, the most exciting part was meeting current George Mason students whose research connected with her own interests. “I want to know how quantum can be applied to the stock market, and one student was working on a physics-based study in that area,” she said. “This program was incredible. I was surrounded by people who were not only incredibly smart, but also genuinely curious, asking thoughtful questions and interested in the subject.”
The Quantum Pathways Immersion program is part of QSEC’s K12 Quantum Workforce Development Project, which was funded by an appropriation sponsored by former U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton and aims to inspire the next generation of students to pursue the field while simultaneously preparing a diverse quantum workforce in the D.C. metro region.
“As the next generation, I think everyone is going to want to at least have some basic understanding and this program definitely gives you a head start on it,” said Thodupunuri.
