On November 14, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (D-OR) visited the University of Oregon to meet with Presidential Chair in Science and Professor of Chemistry Geraldine Richmond, interim Vice President for Research and Innovation, and faculty from the Oregon Center for Optical, Molecular, and Quantum Science (OMQ).
During her visit, the congresswoman learned more about UO faculty research and academic offerings in quantum science. OMQ Director and Professor Brian Smith, Nobel Laureate David Wineland, and other colleagues discussed their research before leading the congresswoman on tours of quantum lab facilities to discuss instrumentation and current research.
Researchers in OMQ study the fundamental interactions between light and matter—leading to the development of new capabilities for controlling and measuring both light and matter with extreme precision. These advances in control and measurement underpin a broad range of applications from enhanced microscopy and spectroscopy for biology and materials science to quantum-enhanced communications, sensing, and computing.
The UO is recognized for its strength in quantum research. Among the initiatives that the congresswoman learned about is the recent ASPEN-Net project through the National Science Foundation’s National Quantum Virtual Lab, which designated the UO as one of six national sites to speed development of quantum technologies (read more: quantum virtual laboratory). UO researchers are developing the key resources needed for quantum technologies and providing new training programs to supply a quantum-ready workforce for the emerging quantum tech economy. UO faculty are also collaborators in the national Center for Quantum Networks, led by the University of Arizona (read more: UO researchers collaborate on new national quantum centers).
Congresswoman Salinas is a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, where she has advocated for the National Quantum Initiative and was the lead sponsor of the Quantum Instrumentation for Science & Engineering (QISE).
Photos courtesy of the University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences.