The zine format — miniature, self-printed booklets — is typically associated with punk rock, comics, and other DIY cultures. But a new outreach effort from the UChicago CS research group Enabling Practical-Scale Quantum Computation (EPiQC) utilizes zines to educate students and the public about the highest of tech: quantum physics and computing.
So far, a team of EPiQC staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and freelance artists have produced 8 zines, covering topics from the history of quantum computing to superposition, entanglement, and reversibility. With playful illustrations and helpful examples, the issues aim to break down quantum computing into digestible servings for non-scientists and scientists alike...in just eight pages apiece.
“Quantum computing has even lower diversity than computer science in general, and we want to reach a broader audience in workforce development,” said Diana Franklin, research associate professor with UChicago CS and lead PI for quantum computing education for EPiQC. “We wanted to think of ways that we could make the topic seem less intimidating and more accessible for computer science undergraduates or the public.”