QuAntü Talk at “Future Congress in Your Community”

With the aim of bringing science and technology closer to school communities, Federico Santa María Technical University (USM) took part in the “Congreso Futuro en tu Comuna” (“Future Congress in Your Community”) outreach event, held at Eduardo de la Barra High School in Valparaíso. The event brought together representatives from government, education, and academia, creating a space for dialogue centered on knowledge, science, and their applications. The initiative was organized by the Chilean Senate’s Committee on Future Challenges and the Municipality of Valparaíso. It featured activities for primary and secondary school students on topics including quantum computing, robotics, oceans, astronomy, and cultural heritage, among other scientific and technological fields. Throughout the day, USM led a program combining science outreach, hands-on experiences, and a showcase of university projects. One of the highlights was the keynote lecture “QuAntü: Quantum Computing from Chile,” delivered by Dr. Ariel Norambuena, a faculty member in the Department of Physics, who, together with his students, presented the fundamentals and potential of this technology. “Quantum computing is a new approach to computation that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to develop technologies with new capabilities. In our project, we are progressing toward control at the atomic scale, with the aim of using a single atom as the fundamental unit for storing and manipulating information. This work brings us, here in Chile, closer to the foundations of a technology that could transform the way we process information,” explains Dr. Norambuena. The event introduced students to concepts associated with an emerging field of science and technology, while also showcasing some of the research currently being conducted at the University in this area.