QUBIC’s outreach program is driven by a belief that curiosity is the foundation of future capability. Quantum biotechnology is an emerging area that most students, teachers and community members have never encountered before, and outreach gives us the chance to introduce it in ways that are engaging, welcoming and accessible. By sharing the ideas, tools and questions shaping the field through school visits, hands‑on demonstrations and public talks, we invite people to explore how quantum science and the life sciences come together, and why this matters for the challenges Australia will face in the decades ahead.

Bringing science to life through real connections

In 2025, the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, QUBIC ran over 30 public engagement initiatives, reaching audiences across the country through talks, festivals, school programs and interactive demonstrations. These activities were designed to make quantum biotechnology tangible and relatable, showing how technologies like quantum sensing and advanced imaging can reveal the mechanics of life, and showcasing QUBIC’s interdisciplinarity in action – physicists, biologists and neuroscientists collaborating to solve shared challenges.

By meeting people where they are, and showing our people in action, we aim to build trust and understanding in a field that is technically sophisticated but deeply human in its applications.

Growing a future community of thinkers, makers and problem‑solvers

Outreach is also about how we cultivate the next generation of interdisciplinary talent. Each school visit, careers event and public talk helps young people picture themselves in fields that span physics, biology, engineering and computation. Many of the students we meet have never heard of quantum biotechnology, yet they leave with questions, excitement and new possibilities in mind. This work broadens participation, strengthens Australia’s STEM pipeline, and ensures that the future of quantum biotech is shaped by a diverse, curious and capable community.

In 2025, QUBIC researchers engaged with over 3000 students and public, with more than 20 public talks and school visits in regional and metropolitan areas a ross three states.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Quantum Thinkers

In 2025 QUBIC expanded our regional and metropolitan outreach through a major engagement at the Your Quantum Future Student Conference, hosted by the ACT
Education Directorate’s Academy of Future Skills. The program brought together over 100 Year 10-12 students from across 15 Canberra schools to learn how quantum technologies will shape future careers and industries, providing hands‑on exposure to emerging fields and access to national experts. The event offered a valuable opportunity to introduce quantum biotechnology to students and teachers, and to demonstrate how quantum science and the life sciences are converging to address major challenges.

Three QUBIC researchers delivered sessions that made quantum biotechnology both accessible and ambitious. Students and teachers explored how quantum
microscopy using squeezed light is advancing imaging, how nitrogen‑vacancy diamond sensors can detect early molecular changes in neurodegenerative diseases such as motor neuron disease, and how quantum sensing can be applied in areas like sport and health diagnostics.

Dr Pavlina Naydenova and Dr Dzung Do-Ha shared their own pathways into quantum biotechnology. They entered from neuroscience and biology, not quantum physics, which showed students that this is a domain open to multiple disciplines and backgrounds.

The conference also strengthened our connections across the national landscape. We engaged with ACT science educators, Questacon, Quantum Australia, and colleagues working to build quantum capability across schools and training programs. The keynote by Australia’s former Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley, who spoke about Australia’s leadership in quantum research and the importance of preparing young people for emerging technologies, reinforced the significance of this work. The engagement continues to generate new opportunities, from discussions about future school visits to explorations of deeper collaboration with ACT educators and national partners.

This outreach activity allowed QUBIC to extend its impact beyond its node locations, engaging regional audiences and demonstrating the breadth, relevance and accessibility of quantum biotechnology. It showcased the Centre’s commitment to sparking curiosity, supporting educators, and building long‑term capability in an emerging field that will increasingly shape Australia’s scientific and technological future.

Our Quantum Future presenters were Dr Sergey Kruk (University of Technology Sydney), Dr Pavlina Naydenova (University of Queensland), and Dr Dzung Do-Ha (University of Wollongong).

An extract from the 2025 QUBIC Annual Report. Read the full report here.