The Faculty of Management Science and Informatics (FRI UNIZA) has joined the National Center for Quantum Technologies, QUTE. sk, as a new partner in its ongoing public engagement efforts at European Researchers’ Night. This collaboration builds on QUTE. sk’s sustained commitment to science communication, which began in 2017 with lectures, experiments and workshops.
Early Quantum Outreach: RCQI at European Researchers’ Night (2017-2019)
The Research Centre for Quantum Information (RCQI) first engaged the public with quantum physics at European Researchers’ Night in 2017, establishing a foundation of outreach activities that predates the center’s formal establishment in 2021. That initial effort took the form of an exhibition stand showing early explorations of the field to a broad audience. This early participation signaled a sustained commitment to science communication, using lectures, experiments, competitions and workshops to demystify complex concepts.
The team’s ambition from the start was to render the quantum world accessible and tangible for everyone, a goal they continued to pursue in subsequent years. European Researchers’ Night has brought together scientists, students and the wider public for two decades, aiming to show that science need not be inaccessible or difficult to understand, but can open up a world of fascinating questions, discoveries and practical applications.
The partnership with FRI UNIZA suggests a broadening of the Quantum Zone’s scope, potentially incorporating quantum technologies with applications in management and informatics, and further solidifying QUTE. sk’s commitment to public engagement with quantum science.
2025 Quantum Zone: Collaboration for UNESCO’s International Year
The 2025 Quantum Zone featured eight science exhibition stands and several lectures, going beyond traditional displays by incorporating interactive workshops, visualizations and discussions about the future of quantum technologies. Visitors could directly engage with quantum phenomena through experiments demonstrating light interference and polarization, and even explore the principles of quantum encryption. A functioning quantum computer was also on display, offering a tangible glimpse into the hardware driving this rapidly evolving field.
This hands-on approach aimed to demystify complex concepts and illustrate how quantum science translates into real-world devices. The organization highlighted how quantum physics underpins technologies now considered commonplace, while simultaneously showing the potential for future advancements in computing, communications, and precision measurement. The initial exhibition stand, while smaller in scale, established a commitment to public engagement that has grown steadily over the past decade.
From cipher challenges to the expansive Quantum Zone, the team behind QUTE.sk has consistently sought to make the quantum world accessible, engaging and tangible for everyone. This sustained effort reflects a belief that encouraging public understanding of quantum science is essential for realizing its full potential. The Quantum Zone demonstrated the many ways quantum science can be brought to life, from simple optical experiments to computing devices, and highlighted the importance of collaboration between institutions to achieve this goal.
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