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Formation of students’ interests in quantum technology across STEM majors
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
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<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=17180">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.</a>
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).
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>.
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
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).
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>.
@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}
}
%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 %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 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
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