From basic quantum science to new technologies

Suitable for 14-19-year olds (secondary and high schools, and college), this article and accompanying activity sheet can be used in the classroom, STEM/physics clubs and at home.

This resource links to KS4 and KS5 Physics.

It can also be used as a careers resource and links to Gatsby Benchmarks:
Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information
Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers

• This teaching resource explains the work of Dr Thomas Volz and the Quantum Materials and Applications Group in Australia. Thomas is engaged in a variety of quantum research projects, typically involving quantum emitters and light. His studies will help understand various materials, their fundamental behaviours and suitability for a range of technological applications that will change the world.

• This resource also contains interviews with Thomas and MRes student Lyra Cronin about their career paths. If your students (or you) have questions for Thomas or Lyra, you/they can send them to the researchers online. All you need to do is to go to the article online (see the Futurum link below), scroll down to the end and type in the question(s). Thomas or Lyra will reply!

• The activity sheet provides ‘talking points’ (based on Bloom’s Taxonomy) to prompt students to reflect on Thomas’s research and challenges them to think about the impact of quantum science.

This resource was first published on Futurum Careers, a free online resource and magazine aimed at encouraging 14-19-year-olds worldwide to pursue careers in science, tech, engineering, maths, medicine (STEM) and social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy (SHAPE).

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