Quantum Science and Engineering Center

Mason-led Immersion Program presents quantum pathways to high school students

Colleen Rich — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 19:00:27 +0000

Mason-led Immersion Program presents quantum pathways to high school students Colleen Rich Wed, 08/09/2023 - 15:00

Quantum is the study of the universe at the smallest scales. The strange behaviors that occur at the scale of atoms are key to the technologies that power our computers and many other modern devices. Recent advances that allow for greater manipulation of these strange behaviors have propelled quantum into a new era and holds promise for technological advances in computing, sensing, and communications. These new technologies may be the landscape of the workplace for today’s high school students.

Photo Provided by the College of Science

To excite high school students about the promise of quantum technologies and to prepare them for this future, ��ӽ紫ý and Connected DMV held the Pathways to Quantum Immersion Program during July. This program brought together high school students from 21 schools around the metropolitan Washington, D.C., region to explore quantum-focused education, research, and career opportunities.

The transdisciplinary program was coordinated by Jessica Rosenberg, Mason associate professor of physics and director of education at Mason’s Quantum Science and Engineering Center (QSEC), and Nancy Holincheck, Mason College of Education and Human Development Assistant Professor, Associate Director, Center for Social Equity Through Science Education, and co-Academic Program Coordinator of the Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning program.

Participants began with a two-week virtual program in which they learned about key quantum concepts, engaged with quantum phenomena using polarizers and simulations of experiments including the double slit experiment, learned about applications of quantum technologies, and were introduced to quantum careers.

Following the virtual program, the students spent a week in residence on Mason’s Fairfax Campus for a packed agenda of in-person programming that included lectures, discussions, and visits to sites working on quantum at Mason and around the region.

Participants visited several of the labs engaged in quantum research including Yun Yu’s quantum chemistry lab that is studying two-dimensional materials, Rob Cressman’s biophysics lab that is using quantum sensors to study the brain, Karen Sauer’s physics lab that is developing quantum sensors to detect magnetic fields, and QSEC Director Patrick Vora’s lab to learn about quantum materials research.

Photo Provided by the College of Science

“I learned about interdisciplinary, collaborative, and connected research across a variety of quantum topics—some I had already heard about and some emerging fields were new to me,” said Shivani Nadella, a rising senior at Freedom High School in South Riding, Virginia. “The professors were very knowledgeable and excited to share their expertise or resources you need to discover and pursue your passion.”

Nadella was originally planning to pursue a computer science degree when she got to college, but said, as a result of this experience, she is considering a dual major in physics.

Beyond Mason, program participants got to see quantum work that is being done at NASA, University of Maryland, MITRE, and George Washington University. At the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the students learned about the role of quantum in communications and got to see quantum labs as well as other facilities like the high bay where the Nancy Grace Roman telescope is being assembled.

At University of Maryland, they got to see lots of quantum labs including a cyclotron and a quantum computer. The MITRE tour included a career panel, as well as visits to the company’s nano-bio and vision-sensing labs. The nano-fabrication facility at George Washington University showed them work being done with scanning and transmitting electron microscopes.

The students’ final visit was to the White House Eisenhower Executive Office for presentations by members of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Quantum coordination office and a tour of the building.

Holincheck said this experience was important for access to opportunities and career information. “The students met diverse scientists working in quantum technologies and quantum policy and heard from them about current and future quantum applications and careers,” she said. “This program is one way that we can provide equitable access to STEM knowledge and opportunities for students from across our region.”

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid said work-based learning experiences like the Quantum Immersion Program help prepare students for careers of the future—careers that don’t yet exist. Nine FCPS students participated in this summer program.

“Our deepest gratitude to our academic, government, and business partners who recognize the value of giving our students hands-on experiences to guide and shape their futures,” she added.

On the final day of the program, participants delivered presentations about what they had learned over the week and their quantum learning continues.

“Some of the students will continue with an extended internship program following this experience,” said Rosenberg. “All of the students also have the opportunity to present a poster on their vision for future quantum technologies the Quantum World Congress occurring in September.”

Rosenberg added, “A student told me that after this experience, they can truly realize how quantum can be applied to many fields—it is the future. They learn whatever career path they choose, whether medical or computational, quantum will be there.”

The Pathways to Quantum Immersion program is part of QSEC’s K12 Quantum Workforce Development Project, which was funded by an appropriation sponsored by 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 Northern Virginia.

“A student told me that after this experience, they can truly realize how quantum can be applied to many fields—it is the future. They learn whatever career path they choose, whether medical or computational, quantum will be there.”

Jessica Rosenberg

Learn more about the Quantum Immersion Program

Topics

Students

College of Science

Quantum Science and Engineering Center

K12 Quantum Workforce Development Project

President Washington highlights Mason’s success in workforce development, student support

Colleen Rich — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 15:08:23 +0000

President Washington highlights Mason’s success in workforce development, student support Colleen Rich Mon, 03/06/2023 - 10:08

Sunset on Wilkins Plaza. Photo by Sierra Guard/Creative Services

��ӽ紫ý President Gregory Washington told the Board of Visitors (BOV) on Thursday, Feb. 23, that “there may not be a better place in the state to make an investment” than Mason.

Washington highlighted several factors, including Mason driving enrollment in the state, admitting almost 90% of applicants and graduating students at about a 70% clip, growing research expenditures, recently increasing compensation for some faculty and staff, flourishing partnerships with Amazon and other leading companies, the university’s impact on small business around Virginia, the latest online program rankings, the university’s upgraded credit rating, and graduates’ favorable salaries.

“Find me a greater human development program in the state currently,” Washington said during the livestreamed meeting. “Find a better human development program in the state over the last 20 years. You probably have to go back to the New Deal to find a better human development program than what is happening en masse here at ��ӽ紫ý.

“We are coming as close to firing on all cylinders as we possibly can given the uncertainty and the challenges that are in front of a public institution in an environment in which we exist.”

Provost Mark Ginsberg noted in his remarks that Mason has been officially reaccredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) through 2032, the longest possible term. “That’s an affirmation of the quality and integrity of our academic programs,” Ginsberg said.

Ginsberg also reported that the number of Mason students studying abroad has jumped from 118 in 2020-21 (the height of the pandemic and down from 667 in 2019-20), to 764 in 2021-22 to 1,383 in 2022-23.

Ginsberg provided an overview of the university’s mental health resources. Since the start of the fall 2022 semester, there have been more than 5,000 visits by Mason students seeking mental health services from on-site professionals or via telehealth The university last fall teamed with TimelyMD to provide a 24-hour virtual extension of campus counseling center resources to improve student well-being.

Ginsberg added that campus police now carry NARCAN, which also is available at Student Health Services. The Student Support and Advocacy Center offers NARCAN training to the Mason community.

Among other happenings from the BOV committee meetings or full board meeting:

The board approved a mechanical engineering PhD.
Trishana Bowden, vice president, Advancement and Alumni Relations and president of the ��ӽ紫ý Foundation, noted that Mason is eight weeks from publicly launching its $1 billion campaign.
Andre Marshall, vice president for Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, reported that the university’s FY22 research expenditures were $230 million, up 7.5%, and that Mason secured a state-leading $5.8 million in congressionally directed projects.
Dean of Admissions Alan Byrd said enrollment this spring is up 1% from last year, with record enrollment for undergraduate students, and credit hours are up 1.6%. Mason has an all-time high of more than 3,800 international students. Fall 2023 applications are up 13% and more than 16% of high school seniors in Virginia have applied to Mason.
David Farris, executive director of Safety and Emergency Management, provided an update on the policies, protocols, and activities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from potential emergency situations. He discussed the required employee civility and violence prevention training and emergency preparedness training and other action threat resources and optional training available to Mason employees. He also discussed adjustments in emergency communication.
School of Business Dean Ajay Vinzé explained ways that the business school can work with other Mason schools and colleges to award certificates across disciplines to provide students an even more customized academic experience that will accelerate their careers. Vinzé added that one in four Mason undergraduates takes some form of business education and that 68% of School of Business alumni live and work within a 50-mile radius. “This is something I've been emphasizing to the CEOs and business leaders as I speak to them because we are the talent pipeline,” Vinzé said.
With an overarching theme of “The arts create community,” College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) Dean Rick Davis presented on the history and mission of the arts at Mason and highlighted several prominent CVPA faculty members.
Patrick Vora, director and founding member of Mason’s Quantum Science and Engineering Center, and Mason alum Jaydeep Joshi, who completed a PhD in physics in 2021, provided an overview of the center, founded in 2018 to focus on a transdisciplinary approach to quantum research and education.

A recording of the February BOV meeting is available here.

Topics

Campus News

Board of Visitors

Costello College of Business

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

Quantum Science and Engineering Center

workforce

Strategic Direction