About IQ-PARC
Innovation in Quantum Pedagogy, Application, and its Relation to Culture (IQ-PARC) is a team of Purdue and Northwestern faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students who collaborate and work for the National Defense Education Program (NDEP) for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, outreach, and workforce initiative programs. We promote a STEM-literate workforce by providing learning opportunities for youth to understand basic principles and applications of quantum concepts through a variety of both face-to-face and online activities.
Mission
Our mission is to create and foster a diverse community of intellectual engineers and scientists by providing the necessary education and resources to have fun inventing quantum activities and to share knowledge and excitement while interacting with quantum machines and concepts. We envision developing device abstraction concepts and human-machine interfaces related to quantum technologies.
Vision
Machine interfaces related to quantum technologies can eventually engage the broader communities to contribute to its advancement and crucially shape the culture around quantum technologies including quantum computing.
People
Mahdi Hosseini, Director & Associate Professor of Electrical Computer Engineering at Northwestern University
Hosseini is an experimental quantum physicist and engineer and a faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northwestern University. His research is on the development of quantum optical devices and systems for future quantum communication and sensing technology. For Hosseini Research Lab please click here.
Erica Carlson, 150th Anniversary Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Purdue University
Carlson is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Purdue University who was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society and won the highest teaching award at Purdue (the Murphy Award). Carlson’s TEDx talk on emergence, “Are you more than your atoms?” continues to be well-received by the general public and scientists. Her YouTube channels have made her lectures on introductory physics available to the public.
Muhsin Menekse, Associate Professor of Engineering Education at Purdue University
Menekse is an Associate Professor of Engineering and Science Education at Purdue University. He has been serving as the Director of the Student Engagement Research at the Institute for Pre-12 Engineering Research and Learning (INSPIRE) since 2015. Prof. Menekse is nationally recognized for his rigorous research on conducting quasi-experimental studies to explore and improve students’ learning in Engineering and Science classrooms.
Dongyang Li, IQ-PARC coordinator, Ph.D. student in Industrial Engineering
Dongyang Li is a Ph.D. student in Industrial Engineering. As a member of a quantum workforce development initiative at Purdue University and Northwestern University, Innovation in Quantum Pedagogy, Application and its Relation to Culture (IQ-PARC), Dongyang worked to address the education and access gap in quantum technologies. Dongyang holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University.
Dr. Zeynep Gonca Akdemir, Curriculum & Instruction in Science Education at Purdue University
Activities
Quantum Game Club
The Quantum Game Club is a community of engineers and scientists interacting with quantum machines and creating games and interfaces.
K-12 Education
We work with STEM teachers to develop educational materials to introduce quantum technologies and quantum concepts to K-12 students. We create learning activities, short videos, and animations to communicate quantum concepts with K-12 students. The math-free and intuition-based pedagogy challenges conventional wisdom in teaching quantum technologies with concepts often referred to as counter-intuitive.
Learn more about High School and Middle School Quantum Education
Outreach videos - The Quantum Age
Nov 1, 2023 Get ready to join Dr. Carlson in the quantum world, where waves are particles, particles are waves, and the line between what is and what is gets blurred.
Click here to see a list of YouTube videos explaining quantum concepts to the general public.
Results
Journal/conference papers
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H Ather, H An, H Owens, S Alajlouni, A Shakouri, M Hosseini Quantum sensing of thermoreflectivity in electronics Physical Review Applied 19 (4), 044040
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H An, H Owens, H Ather, A Shakouri, M Hosseini Intensity instability and correlation in amplified multimode wave mixing Scientific reports 12 (1), 14784
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Zeynep G Akdemir, Muhsin Menekse Designing Quantum-Infused NGSS-Aligned Science Curriculum to Support Learning and Engagement of Middle School Students 2024 Journal Proceedings of the 18th International Conference of the Learning Sciences-ICLS 2024, pp. 2319-2320
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ZG Akdemir Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Quantum-Infused Middle-School Level Science Teaching and Learning Sequence Purdue University Graduate School
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D Li, M Menekse, M Hosseini, EW Carlson, N Dang Innovation in Quantum Pedagogy, Application, and Its Relation to Culture (IQPARC) ZG Akdemir, 2023 Indiana STEM Education Conference
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ZG Akdemir, M Menekse, EW Carlson, N Dang, M Hosseini, D Li Supporting Middle School Students’ Learning Outcomes and Engagement with NGSS-Aligned Quantum-Infused Science Curriculum 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
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D. Li, Z. Zhang, X. Xu, and M. Hosseini, “Quantum Game Club: Engaging with Quantum Computing Through Interactive Learning,” presented at the 2024 IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE), 2024.
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D. Li et al., “Developing an Undergraduate Quantum Workforce,” presented at the 2024 IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE), 2024.
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Z. Zhang et al., “Towards Wave Function Collapse using Optimization with Quantum Algorithms,” SIGGRAPH 2024
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Z. Akdemir et al., “Navigating Quantum Randomness: Integrating Quantum Concepts into Middle School Curriculum to Enhance Engagement and Learning” Submitted to Journal of Research Science in Teaching
- Zeynep, A. G., Menekse, M., Hosseini, M., Carlson, E., Dang, N., & Li, D. (2024, June 23-26). Supporting Middle School Students’ Learning Outcomes and Engagement with an NGSS-Aligned Quantum-Infused Science Curriculum [Paper presentation]. ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, OR, United States
Conference Presentation
- Zeynep, A. G., & Menekse, M. (2024, June 10-14). Designing Quantum-Infused NGSS-Aligned Science Curriculum to Support Learning and Engagement of Middle School Students [Poster presentation]. ISLS Annual Meeting, Buffalo, NY, United States.
- Zeynep, A. G., Menekse, M., Hosseini, M., Carlson, E., Dang, N., & Li, D. (2024, March 19). Quantum-Enhanced Curriculum for Middle School Students [Poster presentation]. Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering, West Lafayette, IN, United States. https://www.purdue.edu/science/research-groups/quantum-science-activities.html
- Zeynep, A. G., Menekse, M., Hosseini, M., Carlson, E., Dang, N., & Li, D. (2024, March 20-21). Quantum-Enhanced Curriculum for Middle School Students [Poster presentation]. QED-C Plenary Meeting, Evanston, IL, United States. https://chicagoquantum.org/event/qed-c-plenary-meeting
- Zeynep, A. G., Dang, N., & Menekse, M. (2024, March 17-20). Fostering Quantum Understanding: Crafting, Applying, and Assessing A Science Curriculum for Middle School [Paper presentation]. 2024 NARST Annual International Conference, Denver, CO, United States. https://virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/#/event/4707/submission/876
- Dang, N., Xu, A., Zhang, Z., Menekse, M., Hosseini, M., Carlson, E., Akdemir, Z. G., & Li D. (2023, February 23-24). Hands-on Quantum Programing: The Student Experience [Conference presentation]. DoD STEM Exchange Meeting, Capitol Hill, Washington D.C, United States. https://dodstem.us/stem-exchange-23/
- Akdemir, Z. G., Menekse, M., Hosseini, M., Carlson, E., Dang, N., & Li D. (2023, February 23-24). Introducing fundamental quantum concepts to K-12 students and teachers [Conference presentation]. DoD STEM Exchange Meeting, Capitol Hill, Washington D.C, United States. https://dodstem.us/stem-exchange-23/
- Akdemir, Z. G., Menekse, M., Hosseini, M., Carlson E., Dang, N., & Li, D. (2023, January 12). Innovation in Quantum Pedagogy, Application, and Its Relation to Culture (IQ-PARC) [Conference presentation]. Indiana STEM Education Conference, West Lafayette, IN, United States. https://education.purdue.edu/events/2023-indiana-stem-education-conference/
- Akdemir, Z. G., Menekse, M., Hosseini, M., Carlson, E., Dang, N., & Li D. (2023, February 12-14). Work-in-Progress (WIP): Change in Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions About Teaching Quantum After They Participate in a Quantum-Infused Integrated STEM Workshop [Conference session]. Hoosier Association of Science Teachers and Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference, Indianapolis, IN, United States. https://hasti.org/event-4967772
Workshops Organized
- Akdemir, Z. G., Menekse, M., Hosseini, M., Carlson, E., Dang, N., & Li D. (2023). 2023 Teacher Quantum Professional Development Workshop [Hands-on workshop]. Purdue School of Engineering Education, West Lafayette, IN, United States.
- Akdemir, Z. G., Menekse, M., Hosseini, M., Carlson, E., Dang, N., & Li D. (2023, March 22-25). No More Quantum Intimidation: Let’s Learn & Teach Quantum-Infused Middle School Science STEM Curriculum Unit [Hands-on workshop]. NSTA 2023 Atlanta National Conference, Atlanta, GA, United States. https://www.nsta.org/atlanta23
Outreach/Educational Videos
- The Quantum Age by Dr. Erica Carlson: https://www.youtube.com/@thequantumage
Resources
We have several educational materials and activities designed to prepare the future workforce in different areas of quantum technologies.
Our Quantum Programming Resources
We provide Quantum Programming materials from Microsoft and Quantum Computing Inc.
Educational Videos
Click here to see a list of Youtube videos explaining quantum concepts to the general public.
Conferences, Workshops, and Meetings
We hold regular workshops and conferences to engage the broader community with quantum technologies. Please visit our event page for the next events.
Research and job Opportunities in Quantum Areas
We have several internships and research opportunities available throughout the year designed to prepare the future workforce in different areas of quantum technologies.
Quantum Courses
Click here to see a list of our quantum courses freely available through edX platform
Middle / High School Quantum Education
If you are a teacher or student and like to get involved in quantum education, please click here to see our current activities.
Events
Featured Events
Prizes and Scholarships
Prizes for Innovative Ideas
As part of our club activities, we create diverse teams of students from different levels and backgrounds to work with our Ph.D. students and learn, design, and implement quantum applications and create demonstrations in either virtual or physical space. We consider multiple prizes $1-3K each year for best ideas and demos.
Prizes are announced during the Quantum Game Club events.
Scholarships
In addition, approximately 5 summer research scholarships will be available every year to qualified students. The scholarships can support students who are engaged in research, education and quantum programming activities.
Contact
Stay connected with IQ-PARC
Stay tuned for news and events from IQ-PARC by joining the Quantum Game Club
IQ-PARC Liaison: Dongyang Li