Many forces can present barriers, from prejudice and unconscious bias to limited access and a lack of diverse voices. Pillars of Change tackles these issues head-on pulling the right people together to create programs that promote understanding and equity in all aspects of our lives. By empowering everyone in our communities to participate, we build a more just and inclusive democracy.
The key to a better future for all lies in closing the gaps between communities. That's why we're gearing up to launch exciting educational and skills-building programs focused on the revolutionary field of quantum science. With introductory training in quantum theory, physics, computing, Ai, mathematics, and more, we want to empower people to tap into the limitless potential of this technology to change the world. Starting in Chicagoland, we're building pathways to the future for everyone.
We're partnering with historically underserved communities to unlock the power of quantum sciences. Through hands-on learning and training, we'll nurture a competitive workforce ready to shape the quantum future. We know that inspiring people of all ages will empower them to pursue exciting opportunities in quantum education, research, and business. Together, we'll transform quantum science into a force for positive change in our communities, our nation, and the world.
We envision a future where quantum science is inclusive and accessible to all. We want to bridge the existing gaps by providing equitable learning experiences, training, and pathways to opportunities in research, business creation, and upskilling/reskilling initiatives. This will empower underserved communities and unleash their full potential, regardless of background.
Quantum computing offers exciting potential in organizational behavior research. By considering the multitude of interactions, repulsions, and attractions of agents (people) across various levels of analysis (individual, group/team, organization, geographical), we can model real-world contexts more accurately. The sheer number of potential interactions and decision paths at these scales is mind-blowing, pushing classical supercomputers to their simulation limits.
Complex Adaptive Systems, Emergence, and Innovation research become exponentially more complex as the number of agent interactions increases. In my previous research, I attempted to measure managers' behaviors related to the dynamics of change, which are inherently nonlinear processes with feedback loops. While I used quantitative methods to evaluate theoretical conjectures and understand mid-level managers' contributions to organizational change (Rah-Khem, 2018), these methods struggle with nonlinear processes.
The challenge is that quantitative analyses don't account for these feedback loops. As a result, researchers often rely on examining cause-and-effect relationships to prove or disprove assumptions. The goal, of course, is to improve our ability to predict how certain "agent" behaviors influence the emergence of innovative responses (Damanpour, 1996). However, research insights remain limited due to the nonlinear nature of change and its emergent qualities. This creates ongoing gaps in the literature (Dickens, 2012; Kozlowki, Chao, Grand, Braun, & Kuljanin, 2013). Change is inherently nonlinear, as are the products of networks of people contributing to systems through feedback loops (Hazy & Uhl-Bien, 2015; Uhl-Bien et al., 2007).
Uhl-Bien et al. (2007) in their theoretical Complexity Leadership framework, forewarned change is inherently nonlinear, as a product of people networks, and contributes to the dynamics of larger systems. So, if we could somehow account for nonlinear feedback loops, and frequency of agent interactions occurring, to determine associated dynamic of innovativeness we could discover new insights. What if linear analysis methods were no longer an underpinning limitation? Classic supercomputers take rudimentary approaches considering cases individually and then comparing these results. This is where the potential in Quantum Computing is so exciting.
“Quantum information has the property that the states can exist in a superposition of 0 and 1; this allows for exploring a much richer set of states” (Pratt, 2021). Complex Adaptive Systems, Emergence, and Innovation have similar wicked scales of exponential size when considering interactive agents at various units of analysis (richer set of states). Quantum computing ability to place qubits in “a superposition of all the possible configurations,” opens new considerations (Pratt, 2021). With encoding phases applied to possible states, leveraging interference amplifies “some answers and cancel other answers, allowing them to arrive at the solution” (Pratt, 2021). Quantum Computing combines superposition & entanglement, “these two properties completely” changes how we can approach questions of analysis opening new levels of research analyses and insights (Pratt, 2021).
Quantum computing opens a new frontier of possibilities.
Underestimating others is a frame of thinking arising from social strata, cultural differences, and economic gaps, undergirded by warped power dynamics. In turn, many people will immediately dismiss individuals and entire communities based on dominant stereotypes. These standards haven't genuinely tried to see, hear, or understand others as people first. It's a destructive bias rooted in a narrow view of value, seeing people solely based on race, culture, and so on. Ultimately, we are stunting our collective societal success by following dominant cultural practices that fail to "see" historically underserved communities.
This inability or unwillingness to "see" our diverse and vibrant communities is not based on any sound evidence. Instead, it's an argument fueled by the systemic failure to achieve equitable inclusion. The pattern is clear: We systematically under-invest in these communities by providing inadequate educational and economic resources. This is further compounded by a pervasive system of "otherness" that guarantees failure. Then, we use the resulting lack of achievement as justification for continued underinvestment. Essentially, our current practices and procedures perpetuate a cycle of underachievement, callously relegating entire segments of the human family to the margins of society. Yet, despite this history and ongoing reality, we remain extremely hopeful.
Why? We know that when our communities have adequate access to resources and opportunities, they excel and thrive. As a nation, by intentionally limiting ourselves to narrow perspectives on the potential of our diverse communities, we create a deficit in our collective humanity. The path to a better world lies in embracing inclusion. The answers to unlocking new discoveries, ideas, creativity, and innovation are literally staring us in the face. Yet, many leaders persist in searching far and wide for talent, while ignoring the rich pool of potential right here at home.
Unfortunately, the quantum community is no different. Current efforts lean heavily towards profiles based on a dominant culture's narrow value system. This elitist approach overlooks local communities, ignoring their potential and possibilities. Global partnerships are great and always encouraged, but bypassing local communities exposes biases, discrimination, and a narrow mindset rooted in arrogance. Historically underserved, underrepresented, marginalized, and low-income community members possess a wealth of potential, experiences, ideas, and perspectives that could significantly amplify the success of the quantum community.
By developing widespread access through local programs, initiatives, and pathways, we can significantly boost our understanding of quantum sciences, including quantum theory, physics, mechanics, computing, algorithms, computer science, Ai, mathematics, and data analytics. But achieving this requires thoughtful inclusion and partnerships. We need to invest in programs geared towards historically underserved communities, not with a charity-based approach, but with genuine partnerships built on shared power, decision making, and access. These partnerships will ensure that these communities can substantively inform and contribute throughout the development process.
Our communities have often been viewed from an academic standpoint as disadvantaged. But we believe, with a twist on Richard P. Feynman's famous quote, that there's "“Plenty of Potential at the Bottom". Our potential can truly flourish when we reimagine what's possible. Just as Feynman implored scientists to collaborate across disciplines, we call on the world to see the immense potential, talent, and room for growth within the very communities we often overlook, underestimate, under-resource, and exclude from exploring the frontiers of quantum science. While we may be positioned at the bottom of the current societal structure, we assert that there's radical potential waiting to be unleashed!
Michio Kaku, in his book Quantum Supremacy, discusses how quantum computing could revolutionize many fields. We agree: the future hinges on harnessing this technology. Yet, a valuable resource continues to be overlooked: the untapped potential of underserved communities. As Chicagoland builds partnerships and programs for a Quantum Hub, our community members are excluded from the conversation entirely, left on the sidelines. In a world where global competition is heating up, our nation enters the arena with its hands tied behind its back – a wealth of potential left untapped.
Join us in changing the narrative and trajectory of exclusion.
* Reference twist on Richard P. Feynman “Plenty of Room at the Bottom” (De. 1959).
Working for a better World. We strive to advance inclusive democracy for the human family. We achieve this through progressive education, transformative change, a commitment to justice, and fostering authentic belonging. We advocate radical equitable access to social, political, and economic resources as essential for the constructive improvement of people's lives.
We want to inspire curious minds, from underserved and underrepresented communities. Let’s join forces to develop introductory programs, in bite size packets, that are relatable and easily understood to make radical waves in the field of quantum science with initiatives tailored to expand the mind pool to unlock the future, in the "Quantum Loop".
We know genius isn’t dictated by societal boundaries. The Quantum Loop Initiative is meant to break down barriers and creating a space where everyone, regardless of background or income, has the opportunity to:
Join the Quantum Revolution!
We can work as a collective to shape the future that belongs to those who shape it. Don't miss out on this life-changing opportunity to dive into the most exciting scientific frontier!
Stay tuned for application details, dates, and more!
Quantum computing is a field of science leveraging computer science, physics, and mathematics that utilizes quantum mechanics to develop super-fast computers. These computers can calculate in-depth probabilities to wickedly complex problems that are impossible for conventional computers we use today. Teams of people across disciplines are working to create stable and cost-effective ways to best use this new technology.
Quantum computers work by using the smallest parts of atoms (electrons and ions) to do their calculations. This special way of working means they can solve problems and handle amounts of information that would completely stump today’s conventional computers using binary system of zeroes.
Imagine all the interactive pieces of our society, individual experiences, teams, units within an organization, cultural, political, economics, regional, nation-states, all converging to affect each other. That's a wicked, or complex problem. Similarly scientists want to understand all the different electrons interacting with one another within atoms, but it's difficult because all the parts (electrons) are constantly interacting. Other complex problems include finding hidden patterns of impact in datasets for marginalized, or underrepresented communities’, or figuring out new physics for subatomic machines. In fact, some problems are so complex that even our most powerful conventional computers can't solve them, unless given light years of time.
Life follows the rules of quantum physics, a bit like an embedded unseen code. To genuinely start to understand how things work at a deeper level, we need quantum computers that are based upon that same code, utilizing this natural advantage to figure out what many label as mysteries, and the dynamic interactions at play.
Quantum computers can outperform classical/conventional computers on specific tasks by harnessing quantum phenomena like superposition (where a particle can exist in multiple states simultaneously) and quantum interference (where these states interact). Quantum computing offers a computational advantage in areas like:
Potential applications include:
These use cases could tackle problems currently out of reach for even the most powerful supercomputers.
When an electron is in superposition, it's like it has multiple possibilities or outcomes at the same time. Imagine it could be moving at different speeds, or even be in different places – all at once. Each of these possibilities has a certain chance of happening if we measure the electron.
Superposition means that quantum bits (qubits) can exist in multiple states at once. It's like adding/stringing different waves together; you get a new, more complex wave. This special ability allows quantum computers to do many calculations at the same time, which is what makes them so powerful.
Quantum interference happens when subatomic particles are in a weird mix of possible states. It's like the different versions of the particle can bump into each other, changing the probabilistic state of what it's likely to look like when we finally measure it..
Qubits are the building blocks of quantum computers, made from tiny particles. Manipulating these qubits through specially designed devices gives quantum computers their processing powers.
In conventional computers, a bit is like a light switch – it's either on (1) or off (0). Quantum computers are different; their bits (called qubits) can be in a weird mix of both on and off at the same time. This is because they use the strange rules of the tiny particle world, where things don't always act as we expect.
Entanglement:
Imagine two particles linked so tightly that if you know something about one, you instantly know the same thing about the other – even if they're miles apart! That's quantum entanglement.
How Quantum Computers Use It
Wavefunction Collapse and Entanglement
Decoherence:
Decoherence is a form of leakage in a quantum computer's power. It's when the delicate balance of the special quantum states are disrupted by environmental factors, like heat or stray particles bumping into them. This interferes with and corrupts the calculations.
The Challenge:
Imagine a particle wants to travel from point A to point B. We normally approach it in a linear or single path fashion, as one clear path. But in quantum science, particle calculations tries out every possible path at once. The most likely path is the one we'd expect, but even the highly improbable, winding routes still slightly influence where the particle ends up. This weirdness might even have played a role in the beginning of life – maybe the paths that led to the right molecules forming were incredibly unlikely, but quantum physics gave that chance for it to happen.
Tunneling:
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