Celebrating 100 Years of Quantum Science

Celebrating 100 Years of Quantum Science

Celebrating 100 Years of Quantum Science, May 26–30, 2025, University of Ottawa

Event Overview

Welcome to “Celebrating 100 Years of Quantum Science,” a special event hosted by NexQT to honour a century of groundbreaking achievements in quantum mechanics and the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025). This event brings together leading scientists, researchers, and students from around the world to reflect on the past and drive future developments in quantum science.  

Quantum mechanics is a cornerstone of modern physics, despite having been developed merely a century ago.  Known for its remarkable precision, quantum theory explains nearly every observed physical phenomenon while challenging our understanding of reality, locality, and the nature of the universe.

Over the past fifty years, the unique properties of quantum systems—such as superposition, entanglement, and contextuality—have sparked a second quantum revolution (Quantum 2.0). This revolution has transformed information theory and fueled ambitious global initiatives to develop quantum technologies, unlocking new capabilities in sensing, communication, and computation.

To mark this historic milestone, NexQT proudly presents a school and workshop focused on advancing quantum education and research. This event will include:

  • Over 40 Distinguished Speakers
    Leading experts from Israel, Germany, the UK, the USA, and Canada will share their latest insights.
  • Workshops and Lectures
    Learn about recent innovations and applications in quantum science through presentations, discussions, and opportunities for the next generation of researchers to highlight their work.
  • Networking Opportunities
    Connect with a global community of quantum researchers, industry professionals, and fellow enthusiasts.

Topics

  • Artificial Intelligence–Inspired Quantum Science
  • Attosecond Science and Nonlinear Dynamics
  • Foundations of Quantum Mechanics
  • Quantum Computing
  • Quantum Communications
  • Quantum Sensing
  • Quantum Photonics
  • Matter Waves

Speakers and Program

The event will feature:

  • Invited Lectures
    Renowned physicists will discuss their pioneering contributions to quantum science.
  • Panel Discussions
    Examine the societal and technological impacts of quantum innovations.
  • Short Presentations for Early-Career Researchers and Students
    Learn about cutting-edge applications of quantum mechanics in technology and research.
  • Poster Session
    Present and exchange findings in an interactive poster session.

List of Confirmed Invited Speakers:

We invited several leading scientists from underrepresented groups, but they were all unavailable during this period.

  • Prof. Ady Arie (Tel Aviv University)
  • Prof. Yakir Aharonov (Chapman University)
  • Prof. Sir Michael Berry (University of Bristol)
  • Prof. Ravi Bhardwaj (University of Ottawa)
  • Prof. Robert Boyd (University of Ottawa) 
  • Prof. Yaron Bromberg (Hebrew University)
  • Prof. Maria Chekhova (Max-Planck Institute for the Science of Light)
  • Prof. Eli Cohen (Bar Ilan University)
  • Prof. Paul Corkum (University of Ottawa)
  • Prof. Stefanie Czischek (University of Ottawa)
  • Prof. Justin Dressel (Chapman University)
  • Prof. Hagai Eisenberg (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
  • Prof. Hanieh Fattahi (Max-Planck Institute for the Science of Light)
  • Prof. Yuval Gefen (Weizmann Institute of Science)
  • Prof. Marco Genovese (Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica)
  • Prof. Khabat Heshami (National Research Council Canada)
  • Prof. Andrew Jordan (Chapman University)
  • Prof. Ido Kaminer (Technion – Israel Institute of Technology)
  • Prof. Ofer Kfir (Tel Aviv University)
  • Prof. Gerd Leuchs (Max-Planck Institute for the Science of Light)
  • Prof. Lora Ramunno (University of Ottawa)
  • Prof. Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop (The University of Queensland)
  • Prof. Miles Padgett (University of Glasgow)
  • Prof. Avi Pe’er (Bar-Ilan University) 
  • Prof. Friedemann Reinhard (University of Rostock)
  • Prof. Yoav Sagi (Technion – Israel Institute of Technology)
  • Prof. Stefan Scheel (University of Rostock)
  • Prof. Sharon Shwartz (Bar-Ilan University)
  • Prof. André Staudte (National Research Council Canada)
  • Prof. Haim Suchowski (Tel Aviv University) 
  • Prof. Ben Sussman (National Research Council Canada)
  • Prof. Lev Vaidman (Tel Aviv University)
Quantum Science Conference Agenda

Celebrating 100 Years of Quantum Science

May 26 to May 30, 2025
Location: FSS 4007, University of Ottawa

Tentative Agenda

Monday (May 26): Quantum Foundations

8:00 – 9:00Registration and Breakfast
9:00 – 9:30Opening Remarks
9:30 – 10:20Keynote: Prof. Sir Michael Berry – Quantum trajectories, quantum potential, superoscillations: Madelung, de Broglie, Newton
10:20 – 10:55Invited: Prof. Eli Cohen – Relativistic independence – theory, applications and experiments
10:55 – 11:15Coffee Break
11:15 – 11:50Invited: Prof. Stefan Scheel – Non-Abelian geometric phases in integrated photonic waveguide structures
11:50 – 12:25Invited: Prof. Ofer Kfir – Quantum vs. Classical Effects in Electron-Photon Entanglement and a Case for Fully Diffractive Bell Test
12:25 – 12:40Contributed: Joab Rosenberg – Foundations of QM
12:40 – 14:00Lunch
14:00 – 14:50Keynote: Prof. Lev Vaidman – What can we learn from asking where a particle was inside an interferometer?
14:50 – 15:25Invited: Prof. Yuval Gefen – Quantum steering, unsteerable states, and unsteerable states that can be steered
15:25 – 15:55Coffee Break
15:55 – 16:30Invited: Prof. Justin Dressel – Continuous Monitoring and Feedback Control of Superconducting Qubit
16:30 – 16:45Contributed: Aaron Z. Goldberg – Measuring impossible parameters with indefinite causal order
16:45 – 17:00Contributed: Anaelle Hertz – Entanglement, loss, and quantumness: When balanced beam splitters are best

Tuesday (May 27): High-Harmonic Generation (HHG) and Strong-Field Quantum Optics

8:30 – 9:00Breakfast
9:00 – 9:50Keynote: Prof. Paul Corkum – High-Harmonic Generation — A Universal Response of Matter to Intense Light
9:50 – 10:25Invited: Prof. André Staudte – Strong‑Field Quantum Optics with Molecules: From Holographic Imaging to Laser‑Dressed Potentials
10:25 – 10:55Coffee Break
10:55 – 11:30Invited: Prof. Hanieh Fattahi – Femtosecond Fieldoscopy
11:30 – 11:45Contributed: Giulio Vampa- Attosecond quantum optics: massive entanglement arising from the generation of photon bunched high harmonics
11:45 – 12:00Contributed: Alok Nath Singh – Capturing an Electron in the Virtual State
12:00 – 12:25Invited: Mr François Carrier (Director of International Research and Experiential Learning) – Exploring Funding Pathways for Collaborative Research and Student Mobility
12:30 – 14:00Lunch
14:00 – 14:50Keynote: Prof. Maria Chekhova – Quantum Optics Meets Strong- Field Physics
14:50 – 15:25Invited: Prof. Ido Kaminer – Strong-Field Quantum Optics
15:25 – 15:55Coffee Break
15:55 – 16:30Invited: Prof. Peter Dombi — Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI)
16:30 – 17:05Invited: Jakob Andreasson — Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI)
17:05 – 17:20Contributed: Marco S. Kirsch – Observation of Joule-Thomson expansion of light

Wednesday (May 28): Quantum Imaging and Related Applications

8:30 – 9:00Breakfast
9:00 – 9:50Keynote: Prof. Robert Boyd – Nonlinear Optics and Quantum Imaging
9:50 – 10:25Invited: Prof. Ben Sussman – Ultrafast Quantum Photonics: Beating Decoherence with Light
10:25 – 10:55Coffee Break
10:55 – 11:30Invited: Prof. Sharon Shwartz – X-ray Quantum Optics: Foundations, Hurdles, and Future Prospects
11:30 – 12:05Invited: Prof. Stefanie Czischek – Chatting with Qubits: Large Language Models for Quantum Many-Body Systems
12:05 – 12:20Contributed: Yingwen Zhang – Light-field microscope with quantum correlated photons
12:20 – 12:35Contributed: Nazanin Dehghan – Spatial characterization of diffracting biphotons
12:35 – 14:00Lunch
14:00 – 14:50Keynote: Prof. Miles Padgett – 3D imaging through a single flexible fibre: An endoscope the thickness of a human hair
14:50 – 15:05Georgi Gary Rozenman – Macroscopic Quantum Analogues: From Wave-Particle Duality to Black Holes and the Aharonov-Bohm Effect
15:05 – 15:20Group Photo
15:20 – 17:00Poster Session

Thursday (May 29): Quantum Information and Communication

8:30 – 9:00Breakfast
9:00 – 9:50Keynote: Prof. Ady Arie – Generation and applications of quantum light using structured nonlinear crystals and shaped pump beams
9:50 – 10:25Invited: Prof. Marco Genovese – Single pair test of CHSH and relativistic independence test through sequential weak measurements
10:25 – 10:55Coffee Break
10:55 – 11:30Invited: Prof. Haim Suchowski – Robust quantum integrated photonics
11:30 – 12:05Invited: Prof. Hagai Eisenberg – Monitoring the generation of photonic linear cluster states with partial measurements
12:05 – 12:20Contributed: Ariel Ashkenazy – Single-photon Raman interaction for realizing the photon-number splitting attack
12:20 – 12:35Contributed: K. M. Jordan – Enhancing Spectroscopic Precision Using Two-Photon Interference
12:30 – 14:00Lunch
14:00 – 14:35Invited: Prof. Yaron Bromberg – Leveraging High-Dimensional Qudits for Quantum Communication and Computation
14:35 – 15:05Invited: Prof. Avi Pe’er – Detection of Entanglement by Stimulated Disentanglement
15:05 – 15:35Coffee Break
15:35 – 16:05Invited: Prof. Ksenia Dolgaleva – Integrated photonics platforms for quantum information
16:05 – 16:20Contributed: Dr. Ladan Arissian – NIST’s Initiatives in Quantum Networking
16:20 – 16:35Contributed: Max Ehrhardt – Birefringence-induced topological effects in laser-written quantum photonics
16:35 – 16:50Contributed: Alessio D’Errico – Reconfigurable Photonic Quantum Walks in Open and Cyclic Lattices

Friday (May 30): Novel Quantum Optics and Quantum Control

8:30 – 9:00Breakfast
9:00 – 9:50Keynote: Prof. Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop – Quantum Biotechnology – how and why?
9:50 – 10:25Invited: Prof. Yoav Sagi – Harnessing quantum tunnelling: spatial transport and interferometry of ultracold atoms in optical tweezers
10:25 – 10:55Coffee Break
10:55 – 11:30Invited: Friedemann Reinhard – Planar scanning probe microscopy – how to bring large quantum sensors close to small samples?
11:30 – 12:05Invited: Prof. Lora Ramunno – Modelling complex laser-matter interactions on the nanoscale
12:05 – 12:40Invited: Prof. Ravi Bhardwaj – Beyond standard light-matter interactions
12:30 – 14:00Lunch
14:00 – 14:35Invited: Prof. Anne Broadbent – Recent Advances in Verifiable Delegated Quantum Computations
14:35 – 15:10Invited: Prof. Khabat Heshami – High-dimensional Quantum Key Distribution
15:10 – 15:30Concluding Remarks and Award Ceremony

Registration and Contact Information

Registration (LINK): The registration fee for this event is 200 CAD per attendee (does not apply to invited speakers). Due to limited seating, we encourage you to register as soon as possible using the link provided below.

Limited financial support is available for non-local students to assist with local expenses such as accommodation. Priority for this support will be given to graduate students.

Contact Us: For inquiries about the program, venue, or sponsorship opportunities, please email us at [email protected].

Dates: May 26th to May 30th, 2025

Venue: NexQT, University of Ottawa, a leading hub for quantum photonics research – FSS-4007 building

    Will you attend the whole event?

    Would you like to contribute to the event by giving a poster or a short talk?

    Upload your abstract (PDF or Word file):