Published February 05, 2025
By : Staff Writer
On Tuesday, the opening ceremonies for the International Year of Quantum, scheduled for February 4-5, began at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The webcast featured groundbreaking insights from Nobel Prize winners in Physics and a panel discussion titled "Public Engagement and Education in Quantum Science and Technology."
Among the speakers was Dr. Prince Osei, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences president in Ghana and a lead scientist with Quantum Leap Africa, who participated in a panel on Responsible Quantum Innovation.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2025 the "International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ)" on June 7, 2024, recognizing the need for a platform fostering international collaboration.
This initiative aims to focus on capacity building in the Global South, promote gender equality in STEM fields, and address the emerging quantum divide.
As the lead agency for IYQ, UNESCO organized the opening ceremony and is preparing for a year's worth of activities.
These events will highlight the importance of quantum science, encourage international and interdisciplinary cooperation, and focus on sustainable development applications.
The celebrations will include inspiring keynote addresses, engaging panel discussions, and cultural performances to commemorate this significant milestone in science and technology.
The proclamation of 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology is a culmination of a multiyear effort led by an international coalition of scientific organizations.
After Mexico proposed the initial idea during UNESCO’s 42nd General Conference in November 2023, Ghana formally submitted a draft resolution to the U.N. General Assembly in May 2024, gaining co-sponsorship from over 70 countries before its approval.
This global initiative aims to highlight the significance of quantum science and its applications through various engaging activities.
UNESCO has launched a dedicated website that will feature events, resources, and opportunities to explore this fascinating field.
This year-long initiative will celebrate the contributions of quantum science to technological progress over the past century, raise awareness of its importance for sustainable development in the 21st century, and ensure that all nations have access to quantum education and opportunities.
UNESCO will oversee the campaign as the U.N.’s lead agency, while the American Physical Society will administer the initiative through an international consortium, inviting the participation of scientific societies, academic institutions, philanthropic organizations, and industry stakeholders.
The founding partners of the consortium include the American Physical Society, the German Physical Society, the Chinese Optical Society, SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics, and Optica (formerly OSA).
The @QuantumYear2025 opening ceremonies happen Feb. 4-5 in Paris! Watch live via webcast, including the panel 'Public Engagement and Education in Quantum Science and Technology' featuring IQC's senior manager, scientific outreach. https://t.co/CRLasxsWin#IYQ2025 #Quantum pic.twitter.com/WEOHg6hn3n
— Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) (@QuantumIQC) February 1, 2025
Join the quantum movement!⚛️
— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) February 4, 2025
As we launch into the International Year of Quantum #Science and #Technology at UNESCO, hear the groundbreaking insights from trailblazing Nobel Prize winners in Physics.
Discover how their work is shaping the future: https://t.co/MEYjeO91kc pic.twitter.com/qnb9djew5k
