Quantum Girls is funded by the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources, as part of a program aimed at supporting Women In STEM and Entrepreneurship (WISE). The project’s primary goal is to improve female students’ attitudes toward STEM subjects. Quantum Girls is led by Professor Jingbo Wang and Professor David Blair at the University of Western Australia. It is an extension of the Einstein-First Project described above. Quantum Girls combines Einstein-First’s quantum science school programs with new quantum computing extracurricular programs developed by UWA’s Quantum Information, Simulation, and Algorithm Centre (QUISA) in association with the Pawsey Computing Centre. While Quantum Girls’ primary aim is to engage female students and teachers, the program is not intended to be exclusionary towards male and gender-diverse individuals, and our resources and activities will be open to all.

Activities

Quantum Girls is developing resources in three main areas:

• • Classroom curriculums developed as part of Einstein-First’s overall programs, with quantum science appearing primarily in the Year 5, 8, 9, and 10 curriculum modules.
  • After school STEM clubs, where Quantum Girls is developing activities and lesson plans aimed at students from Year 5 to Year 12 for schools and extracurricular STEM programs to deliver. This includes online access to real quantum computers based at UWA.
  • Quantum computing ‘Hackathons’ in which students will work collaboratively to solve quantum computing challenges in national competitions.

Quantum Girls is also working to coordinate a network of female and gender-diverse STEM role-models across Australia to present in schools, STEM clubs, and online meetings.

Einstein-First and Quantum Girls are thrilled to announce the upcoming session of our online micro-credential units, commencing in February. These units cater to primary and secondary school teachers and educators seeking to enhance their understanding of a contemporary school curriculum aligned with the science students encounter in their daily lives.

These units are designed for individuals with or without a specialised science background and introduce fundamental modern science concepts through engaging, hands-on activities using toys and models. You’ll find that concepts such as Einsteinian notions of space and time, gravity, energy, and light are easily understandable and can be effectively conveyed to both primary and secondary students.

Upon completion of the course, you will be equipped to engage your students in captivating discussions on science topics that intrigue them, including subjects like black holes and quantum computers, as well as pressing issues like climate change. You can take pride in preparing your students for the contemporary world of science and technology, especially as the Australian Government has recognised quantum technology as a key strategic industry for the nation’s future.