Episode 29: Puzzles, Games & History Create Quantum Education

Postdoc researcher Joel Hutchinson discusses quantum materials and innovative science communication with host Veronica Combs in this episode of The Quantum Spin by HKA. Joel is an experimentalist at the University of Basel who specializes in 2D quantum materials. He is also a science communicator who helped to build the “Save the Cat'” quantum quest, a game that incorporates physics puzzles as well as history lessons in scientific discovery. He and host Veronica Combs cover the Hubbard Model as well as the power of games to level the educational playing field.

00:00 Introduction to Season Four

00:29 Interview with Joel Hutchinson: Exploring 2D Quantum Materials

02:00 Global Quantum Communities: A Comparative Insight

04:33 Save the Cat: A Quantum Quest

13:08 The Future of Quantum Computing

20:55 Advice for Aspiring Quantum Researchers

21:33 Conclusion and Podcast Information

Joel Hutchinson is a Canadian postdoctoral researcher at the University of Basel working on the theory of two-dimensional quantum materials. He earned his PhD from the University of Alberta in 2019 and has since conducted research on quantum technologies in France and Switzerland. His work focuses on applications of spin-orbit coupling, superconductivity, and strongly-correlated electrons. He is a passionate science communicator and educator and has delivered a TEDx talk on the holographic principle. When he’s not busy with science he finds other avenues of exploration; last year he published a novella and rode his bike 4000km across Western Europe.

Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients as an account manager with HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 10 years.

Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with HKA Marketing Communications on LinkedIn at

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hka-inc--public-relations/ or on our website at ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://hkamarcom.