Exploring the Quantum Universe – a Fermilab Quantum Symposium
December 4-5, 2025
This two-day event celebrates the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology by bringing together leading scientific experts, students, institutional leaders from government labs, academia and industry, funding agencies, Congress representatives and the public to reflect on the latest advances and future directions in quantum science, technology and applications. Hosted at Fermilab, headquarter of the SQMS Center, a Department of Energy National Quantum Information Science Research Center, the event will feature two days of lectures, tutorials, keynote talks, panel discussions and breakout technical sessions, poster sessions, interactive laboratory tours, live demonstrations, and public celebrations highlighting the latest advances in quantum computing, communication, and sensing. Friday evening, December 5, will conclude with a quantum-inspired art program and a public lecture from a distinguished QIS leader.
Participation by invitation or approved application only
Confirmed Speakers Include
Keynote Talk
Prof. Peter Shor, MIT
Distinguished Speakers and Lecturers:
Dr. Jay Gambetta, IBM
Dr. Travis Humble, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Sir Peter Knight, Imperial College London
Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, Rigetti Computing
Dr. James Kushmerik, NIST
Prof. Mikhail Lukin, Harvard University
Dr. Eleanor Rieffel, NASA Ames Research Center
Dr. Itamar Sivan, Quantum Machines
Prof. Andreas Walraff, ETH Zurich
Dr. Jun Ye, University of Colorado Boulder
Tentative Agenda
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Location: Fermilab – Ramsey Auditorium and Wilson Hall
Start Time: 8:30 AM
Morning program – educational lectures and tutorials
8.30 AM- 12:45 PM | Ramsey Auditorim
Lectures: Fundamentals and Applications of Quantum Computing
Industry Tutorials
12:30 – 2 PM | Lunch
Afternoon Program – Quantum Symposium Opening Keynotes
2:00 – 6:00 PM | Ramsey Auditorium
Invited keynote talks on quantum technologies – topics spanning quantum computing, communication, and sensing. Speakers include pioneers of quantum science and technology from academia, industry and government labs.
Evening Program – Poster session and reception
6:00 – 8:00 PM | Wilson Hall Atrium – Poster session showcasing research across the international quantum ecosystem, and networking reception with refreshments
Friday, December 5, 2025
Location: Fermilab – Ramsey Auditorium and Wilson Hall
Start Time: 9:00 AM
Morning Program – Quantum Symposium Talks, Panels & Roundtables
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Ramsey Auditorim
Roundtables, panels and breakout topics will include:
- Battling Decoherence – Materials for Quantum Devices
- Scaling Quantum Systems – Controls, Cryogenics, Communication
- Quantum Algorithms and Error Correction/Mitigation
- National Coordination & Collaboration – Synergies Across the 5 DOE NQISRC
- Workforce Development
12:30 – 2:00 PM | Lunch Break
Afternoon & Evening – Public Celebration of Quantum
2:00 – 4:00 PM | Public Registration & Laboratory Tours – Interactive lab tours highlighting quantum technologies
4:00 – 6:00 PM | Quantum Showcase – Wilson Hall
- Career fair, live demos, quantum-inspired art gallery, and interactive exhibits
- Special ceremony: Helen Edwards Building Naming
6:00 – 7:30 PM | Evening Reception
- Poster session continues
- Quantum-inspired art program
7:30 – 8:30 PM | Public Lecture
Title: Quantum and AI: The Frontiers of Innovation
Speaker: [TBA – Distinguished Guest]
Location: Ramsey Auditorium, Fermilab
Header image: “Wilson Hall and the Helen Edwards Engineering Center in the snow on December 20, 2024.”
Photographer: Ryan Postel, Fermilab
