Bringing Quantum Information Science to Diverse Populations

The field of Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) has received a lot of attention in recent years. The anticipated impact the field will have on society is reflected in large investments from both government and industry sectors and highlights a need for a quantum capable workforce. Unfortunately, the nascent aspect of the QIST field has kept the majority of workforce development efforts confined to large research-focused institutions. The Quantum Undergraduate Education and Scientific Training (QUEST) project began as an effort to help identify and address challenges associated with bringing QIST workforce development efforts to a more diverse range of institutions, specifically predominantly undergraduate institutions. In addition to a two-day workshop focusing on these challenges, the project also included professional development in the form of faculty online learning communities to support the incorporation of QIST into the undergraduate curriculum. In this talk I will give an overview of the QUEST effort, what was learned during the project and some of the sustained efforts that have grown directly out of this effort.