Outreach Trip to Tasmania: Engaging Young Minds in Quantum Science

Outreach Trip to Tasmania: Engaging Young Minds in Quantum Science

The Tasmania trip from 9-11 September was a great success, representing both EQUS Outreach and the Quantum and Dark Matter Roadtrip. Driven by personal ties to the island state, this initiative provided a unique opportunity to engage with a community far removed from any EQUS universities on the mainland. 

Lachlan Miller, Kerstin Beer, and Zachary Kerr, visited Hobart, connecting with students at Taroona High School and Guilford Young College. Lachlan Rodgers also participated in Launceston, leveraging personal connections to enhance outreach efforts. 

During our presentations, we introduced key quantum physics concepts such as wave-particle duality, energy quantization, and superposition, emphasising interactive discussions and demonstrations. A highlight was the Q&A sessions, where students asked insightful questions about studying physics and career paths. To encourage participation, students received stickers for asking or answering questions, which fostered a lively dialogue. 

Feedback from attendees was very positive. Taroona students expressed enthusiasm for superpositions and appreciated the conversational format of the talks. At Guilford Young, students noted newfound interests in quantum computing and the interconnection between coding and software. 

Teachers were curious about how the senior physics curriculum in Tasmania compares to other states. We observed that both Queensland and Tasmania present a limited introduction to quantum physics, often stopping at the quantization of light. 

In addition to school visits, we hosted community pub trivia nights, creating a relaxed atmosphere for engaging with quantum topics. This outreach trip not only enriched the educational landscape for Tasmania’s youth but also ignited curiosity about the future of quantum science, showcasing the vital role of community engagement in advancing scientific understanding.