The University of Western Australia has launched Western Australia’s first undergraduate quantum computing major in response to strong industry demand.
The Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours) in Quantum Computing was announced this week by UWA Vice-Chancellor Amit Chakma at Quantum West, an industry event hosted by UWA.
Attendees included Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley and the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Science and Innovation.
Image: (left to right) UWA Tutor and Honours student Emma Paterson with UWA's Professor Michael Tobar, The Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma, Dr Michael Harvey from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems and UQ's Professor Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop at the Quantum West event.
Professor Chakma said that quantum computing was a rapidly advancing field that leveraged the principles of quantum mechanics to perform computations in ways that classical computers could not.
“Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionise various industries, including cryptography, optimisation, drug discovery and materials science,” Professor Chakma said.
“The Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours) in Quantum Computing has been designed to provide students with the breadth of understanding that local and global employers are looking for, alongside technical knowledge.”
Dr Foley described the launch of a quantum computing major at UWA as great news and said quantum technologies would transform many aspects of our lives over the coming two decades.
“Australia has deep expertise in quantum research and now is the moment to build quantum science into our school curriculums and universities, and to train experts in quantum computing and other quantum technologies,” Dr Foley said.
“These graduates will help meet what I expect to be significant demand in the workforce, ensuring Australia stays at the forefront of this new digital revolution.”
Image: Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley, UWA undergrad students Nicole Yong and Julia Celiberti and UWA's Professor Vince Wallace with the University's portable Quantum computer is the desktop 3-qubit SpinQ Triangulum which is used for teaching.
The new course, which is unique in Australia, will see students studying algorithms, computer systems, high performance computing, physics, maths, cybersecurity and even philosophy.
UWA students have had the opportunity to be among the first in Australia to have access to their very own quantum computing lab and are encouraged to work with industry and develop new startup ideas.
The new major is part of UWA’s comprehensive education pipeline for quantum technology which includes Quantum Girls, a national program designed to inspire young people and their teachers.
In addition to undergraduate training, students who wish to continue their training in quantum computing can undertake a Masters or PhD with world-leading experts in the field.
More information about the new course can be found here.
Image: Dr David Gozzard and Dr Sascha Schediwy from the UWA node of the International Centre of Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) and Minister Dawson with the ICRAR mobile optical ground station (red jeep), a key part of the TeraNet optical communications project, (which includes a study of quantum communications.)
Credit for all photographs: Kristen Graham Photography.