Speaker: Matt Swayne, Science and Research Information Officer at Penn State; contributor to The Quantum Daily (https://thequantumdaily.com/)

Abstract: After decades of being “probably a decade away,” quantum technology is currently one of the most exciting fields in scientific discovery and a growing commercial interest. As a contributor to The Quantum Daily, I’ve learned that this nascent quantum industry is really an ecosystem composed of universities, big corporations, small startups — and a few crackpots. Within those communities, there are smaller communities of hardware specialists and algorithm developers. And even smaller pockets of proponents of certain types of hardware — ion traps, annealers, superconductors, etc. During this conversation, I would like to talk about the unique challenges of writing about and discussing quantum technology. I would also like to pass on some pointers I’ve learned — the hard way — trying to take this incredibly complicated and powerful technology and converting it into stories for the general audience. Hopefully, this will help when you want to talk to the public, funders, investors, your mother-in-law, etc.