Montana State to celebrate World Quantum Day on April 14
Montana middle and high school teachers can apply for a free kit of materials from MSU to celebrate World Quantum Day in the weeks surrounding April 14. MSU has a growing portfolio of quantum-related research
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From the MSU News Service
BOZEMAN — Montana State University will celebrate its second World Quantum Day in the weeks surrounding April 14 by supplying Montana middle and high school teachers with free kits and downloadable resources to help students learn about quantum science.
World Quantum Day is an annual event to promote public awareness and understanding of quantum science and technology around the world. This year it is especially key, as 2025 has been designated the International Year of Quantum by UNESCO.
Quantum science and technologies have become a focus of MSU’s record-setting research programs. Current projects at MSU include the Applied Quantum CORE (QCORE) supported by the Air Force Research Lab, which will house equipment to test prototype quantum components in the extremely cold environments in which they operate, and a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Engines program for Montana to collaborate with Idaho and Wyoming to study key gaps in the national quantum supply chain.
Related research at MSU includes the MonArk Quantum Foundry, a collaboration between MSU and the University of Arkansas; Spectrum Lab, which bridges MSU’s research with Montana businesses; the Optical Technology Center (OpTeC); and the Montana Nanotechnology Facility (MONT).
Quantum mechanics is the science of atoms and particles – the tiny building blocks of the universe, according to the U.S. National Quantum Initiative. “Using quantum mechanics, scientists and engineers have created revolutionary technologies that impact our everyday lives,” the website states, listing as examples lasers, LED monitors, the inner workings of smartphones, MRI scanners in hospitals and GPS systems.
MSU’s , which leads education and workforce development for QCORE, is curating World Quantum Day resources for educators and will give away 40 kits for middle and high school teachers who wish to celebrate World Quantum Day with their students, as well as 20 expansion packs for teachers who received kits in 2024.
No previous quantum experience or knowledge is required to use the kits. QCORE will provide an online professional development workshop explaining the kit’s resources. All activities will also be posted online for free access. Educators are encouraged to think about how they can share the resources with as wide an array of students as possible, including members of groups who have been historically excluded from science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, fields.
Similar to Pi Day, celebrated on March 14 to reflect the first few digits of pi, 3.14, World Quantum Day is celebrated on April 14 in reference to Planck’s constant, a number relevant to quantum physics. The event is supported by QuanTime, a program of the National Q-12 Education Partnership.
To learn more about World Quantum Day at MSU or to apply for an educator’s kit, visi:t www.montana.edu/smrc/quantum. The deadline to apply for a kit is March 16. World Quantum Day is at: https://worldquantumday.org, and information about the International Year of Quantum is at: https://quantum2025.org/.
