Outreach: Quantum Communication

On the 11th February the latest cohort gave a talk to members of the public titled "The Quantum Showcase: A Journey through Time".

The talk, organised by the CDT in conjunction with Friends of Imperial, took the audience on a whirlwind tour through some highlights of the quantum story. After a quick jargon-buster, the moment everyone was waiting for: the official start of the game of quantum bingo! In case that wasn’t enough to enthral the audience, the story began with an outline of what sparked quantum theory, followed by the ego-boosting Copenhagen interpretation (the Universe depends on you!). Then we explored the quantum magic bringing us a step closer to Hogwarts and the science behind the Weeping Angels of Dr Who. After that we delved into the bright idea that changed the world: lasers – which were also an excuse to have a fiery demo – and how quantum encryption could secure James Bond’s messages from hapless villains. Rounding off the story, we learnt what quantum computers are actually good for, how to score a goal in a game of quantum football, and finally the true weirdness of that wave-particle duality.
We’re confident that the audience came away with an appreciation of the strangeness of quantum mechanics and why they should care about it.