Going beyond 'Sparking Curiosity in Quantum Science': Culturally Responsive Community Engagement as a Catalyst for the Quantum Future.

2025 is the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. We not only celebrate 100 years of technological advances driven by foundational research breakthroughs but also find ourselves at the beginning of a ‘second quantum revolution’. Predicted to disrupt or transform a wide range of industries from automotive and finance to healthcare and cybersecurity, it is hard to imagine any aspect of our lives that will remain unaltered by these new quantum technologies.

Where the ‘first quantum revolution’ not only brought advances but also resulted in digital divides and a STEM workforce that does not reflect population demographics, we can learn from past mistakes and adapt course to realize the promise of the emergent quantum technology market not just for select stakeholders but for all.

In this talk, I will discuss how to utilize culturally responsive community engagement to ensure that our handling of these new technologies is ‘future aware’—a future in which all stakeholders are equipped to find their lives enhanced rather than diminished. Such an approach is necessary to 1) address the challenge of meeting the workforce demands of the rapidly advancing quantum industry in size and complexity, 2) allow us to fully maximize our combined potential, and 3) secure the creative solutions needed for our quantum future.