Date/Time: Sunday, April 19, 2026 | 9 AM to Noon
Title: Quantum Physics in the Classroom: Entangling the Next Generation
Location: TBA
Quantum physics is permeating popular culture, appearing in everything from Marvel blockbusters to high-end TV advertisements. To a physicist, much of this "quantum talk" is laughably inaccurate, yet it almost always contains a kernel of truth. Because so few students are exposed to quantum concepts in school, the line between fascinating theory and ridiculous farce remains blurred.
This gap isn’t just a matter of scientific literacy; it’s a missed opportunity to inspire the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs. To keep pace with the rapid growth of the quantum industry, we must develop hands-on strategies to engage K–12 learners—building intuition for the quantum world without requiring a mastery of classical mechanics.
In this collaborative professional development workshop, Dr. Alice Flarend and Prof. Maajida Murdock will guide participants through hands-on demonstrations that bridge the gap between classical and quantum physics. Attendees will explore key concepts including the wave-particle duality of light and the three-polarizer effect, alongside thought experiments designed to transition students from classical models to a quantum framework. By focusing on these foundational phenomena, the workshop provides educators with a novel, actionable roadmap for integrating quantum technologies into the K–12 curriculum.
Workshop Instructors
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| Dr. Alice Flarend Bellwood-Antis High School, PA |
Prof. Maajida Murdock Morgan State University, MD |
Registration
We cap the number of registrations to 15 people.
To register, please fill out the Quantum Education Workshop Registration Form through here. The registration will remain open until Saturday, April 18 unless all the spots are filled.
Before Monday March 23, we ask only K-12 teachers to register to give them priority to register for the workshop.
After Tuesday March 24, anyone can register if there are remaining spots.
There is no registration fee for this workshop.
Lodging Support
- The CSAAPT has limited funds to provide lodging support to high school teachers of up to $177/night for the night of Saturday, April 18, 2026.
- To apply, fill in the requested information in the registration form. The deadline to register for the workshop attandance and to request lodging support is midnight of Sunday, March 29, 2026.
- People selected for support will be notified by Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
- Preference will be given to high school teachers who must travel long distance to reach the Meeting site.
- If you are selected to receive this support, you will be requested to provide the following:
- A copy of your work ID which proves that you are a current high school physics teacher
- A copy of the detailed itemized receipt from the hotel
- A copy of your work ID which proves that you are a current high school physics teacher
- Reimbursement will be made via a check or a bank deposit after the meeting from one of our supporting institutions.
- If you have any questions about this program, please email Kent Yagi (ky5t@virginia.edu).
Important Dates
- until Monday, March 23: we ask only K-12 teachers to register to give them priority to attend the workshop
- after Tuesday, March 24: anyone is welcome to register for the workshop
- Sunday, March 29: deadline for lodging support requests for K-12 teachers
- Saturday, April 18: deadline for registration for the workshop (the registration will close earlier once all the spots are taken)
