Do you know how quantum can change society? Most people don’t.
Quantum technology, statistics and a survey with memes: definitely not your everyday research. Julia Cramer (Leiden Institute of Physics) and Sanne Willems (Institute of Psychology) investigate how people perceive quantum.
‘Our research focuses on the general public’s attitudes and knowledge about quantum science and technology,’ Cramer explains. ‘We need to understand this well in order to strengthen the connection between society and emerging quantum technologies.’
A crash course in quantum
One of the challenges the researchers face is simply getting in touch with people who are not already interested in quantum from the outset. ‘During the Leiden2022 European City of Science, we had the unique opportunity to organise an event in the Vreewijk. That attracted all kinds of people, from families to casual passers-by. Although it is a relatively well-educated neighbourhood, by no means all participants will simply come to activities about quantum. So it was perfect for our research.’
Social sciences and physics
Together with master’s student Jasper Peer, Cramer put out a survey through the neighbourhood association. ‘When his project ended, the data turned out to be very interesting. That is why I contacted Sanne, with whom I am also in the Young Academy Leiden. We wanted to do the data analysis really thoroughly.’
And that was a fun challenge, Willems says. ‘Research on quantum in society is a fairly new field. So there is still little research to build on. Therefore, Jasper and Julia had to develop the questionnaire to measure quantum knowledge and attitudes towards quantum largely on their own. Together with master’s student Anka van de Merbel, I then extracted as much information as possible from the data.’
How do you measure knowledge about quantum?
The researchers came up with creative methods for that questionnaire. ‘To measure quantum knowledge, for example, we searched for figures and memes about quantum phenomena,’ Cramer explains. ‘We asked participants which description matched the picture. One of the descriptions was correct and the wrong descriptions were made up together with experts. Of course, a wrong answer has to make sense, because if they are blatantly wrong, anyone can guess the correct answer. Then you are not measuring what you want to measure: knowledge about quantum.’
Is it a wave? Or a particle?
This meme was used in the study. What does this image say about the wave-particle duality of quantum particles?*
▢ Measuring a particle can change its behaviour
▢ You can never know the exact location and speed of a particle
▢ How can particles be shot as fast and precise as possible
▢ Thinking hard about small particles can give a different outcome
▢ No idea
*Right answer at the bottom of the article
‘People don’t feel connected to developments in quantum’
‘We hope that this survey is a first step in the development of a validated questionnaire that other researchers will also use,’ says Willems. For this survey at least, the conclusion is clear: ‘The participants have all heard of quantum and also think it is important,’ says Cramer. ‘They would like to know more about it, but don’t really feel connected to the developments themselves.’
Cramer expects that quantum technologies could start to have a big impact on our society. ‘In the long term, we therefore hope that our research will help to better match society’s wishes and expectations. So that everyone can be included in that development. With artificial intelligence, you also saw that it was a far-off thing for many people, whereas now it is suddenly all around us. With quantum, we have the opportunity to better prepare people for it.’
*The correct answer is: ‘Measuring a particle can change its behaviour
Read the scientific publication.