Insider Brief
- Scientists would like to give global recognition to quantum science and technology.
- They are seeking to petition the 2023 General Conference of UNESCO and the 2023 General Assembly of the United Nations to make 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
- For a century, quantum science and technology have impacted various scientific and engineering disciplines, spanning physics, chemistry, material science, biology and information science.
An alliance of leading scientific bodies and academies from around the world is presenting a resolution to recognize quantum science and technology to the 2023 General Conference of UNESCO and the 2023 General Assembly of the United Nations.
The resolution seeks to declare 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, celebrating the transformative impact of quantum science on technology, culture, and our comprehension of the natural world.
The selection of 2025 for this significant international event commemorates a century since the inception of quantum mechanics, according to the scientists.
Over the past hundred years, quantum science and technology have emerged as central pillars in various scientific and engineering disciplines, spanning physics, chemistry, material science, biology and information science. It has unlocked the secrets behind the sun’s brilliance, the workings of magnets, chemical bonding between atoms, and the formation of galaxies in the universe. Moreover, it has paved the way for groundbreaking technological advancements such as transistors powering our electronics, lasers fueling global telecommunications and LEDs revolutionizing lighting efficiency.
Key to Global Challenges
Looking to the future, quantum science and technology are poised to become the paramount interdisciplinary field of the 21st century, significantly impacting pressing global challenges addressed in the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, according to the website. For example, quantum innovations will play a vital role in addressing issues related to climate, energy, food safety and security and clean water.
By inspiring and nurturing young minds worldwide, the project aims to foster the next generation of quantum pioneers, who will harness quantum science to create a positive impact on humanity. This proposed International Year will offer a unique opportunity for both young and inquisitive individuals of all ages to delve into the ways quantum science underpins our physical world, drives technological breakthroughs, and influences art and culture.
The initiative achieved a major milestone in October 2021 when the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) endorsed the proposal during its 30th General Assembly. The IUPAP expressed “strong support for the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology goals, encompassing science, education, outreach, and particularly aiming to promote physics education and improve the quality of life for citizens in developing nations.”
This global endeavor is part of a broader initiative dedicated to enhancing national capabilities in fundamental sciences and science education.
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