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Formation of students’ interests in quantum technology across STEM majors
written by Ella Watts and Benjamin M. Zwickl
The Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) workforce is rapidly expanding as it helps develop transformative technologies used for computing, sensing, and communication.  However, exposure to quantum concepts in high school and college is limited for students in many science and engineering degrees, which means many students may lack knowledge about QIST and what the subject entails. This project involved interviews with 22 undergraduate students from varying STEM disciplines. In our analysis, we separate students with high and low interest in QIST across the following factors: awareness and early learning experiences, course-based learning experiences, perceptions of math in quantum, perceptions of the scariness and mystery of quantum, perceptions of a disconnect between QIST and their primary discipline, and perceptions of quantum careers. We examine why quantum may be viewed as "scary" or "mysterious", and how quantum technology may come into contact with their discipline. Many interviewees expressed an interest in quantum, but were reluctant to pursue it as a subject due to a perceived disconnect with their own discipline. Overall, we hope that developing an understanding of students' views of QIST will support ongoing improvements in the development and implementation of introductory QIST courses, minors, and tracks.
Physics Education Research Conference 2025
Part of the PER Conference series
Washington, DC: August 6-7, 2025
Pages 441-446
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Foundations
- Cognition
- Student Characteristics
= Affect
Quantum Physics
- General
- Upper Undergraduate
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Researchers
- Professional/Practitioners
- Educators
- application/pdf
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Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1119/perc.2025…
Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the published article's author(s), title, proceedings citation, and DOI.
Rights Holder:
American Association of Physics Teachers
DOI:
10.1119/perc.2025.pr.Watts
NSF Number:
2315691
Keyword:
PERC 2025
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created October 20, 2025 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
October 27, 2025 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
October 28, 2025
Other Collections:

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Record Link
AIP Format
E. Watts and B. Zwickl, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2025, Washington, DC, 2025, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17180&DocID=6108).
AJP/PRST-PER
E. Watts and B. Zwickl, Formation of students’ interests in quantum technology across STEM majors, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2025, Washington, DC, 2025, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17180&DocID=6108>.
APA Format
Watts, E., & Zwickl, B. (2025, August 6-7). Formation of students’ interests in quantum technology across STEM majors. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2025, Washington, DC. Retrieved November 8, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17180&DocID=6108
Chicago Format
Watts, Ella, and Benjamin Zwickl. "Formation of students’ interests in quantum technology across STEM majors." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2025, Washington, DC, August 6-7, 2025. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17180&DocID=6108 (accessed 8 November 2025).
MLA Format
Watts, Ella, and Benjamin Zwickl. "Formation of students’ interests in quantum technology across STEM majors." Physics Education Research Conference 2025. Washington, DC: 2025. 441-446 of PER Conference. 8 Nov. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17180&DocID=6108>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Ella Watts and Benjamin Zwickl", Title = {Formation of students’ interests in quantum technology across STEM majors}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2025}, Pages = {441-446}, Address = {Washington, DC}, Series = {PER Conference}, Month = {August 6-7}, Year = {2025} }
Refer Export Format

%A Ella Watts %A Benjamin Zwickl %T Formation of students' interests in quantum technology across STEM majors %S PER Conference %D August 6-7 2025 %P 441-446 %C Washington, DC %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17180&DocID=6108 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2025 %O August 6-7 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Watts, Ella %A Zwickl, Benjamin %D August 6-7 2025 %T Formation of students' interests in quantum technology across STEM majors %B Physics Education Research Conference 2025 %C Washington, DC %P 441-446 %S PER Conference %8 August 6-7 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17180&DocID=6108


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