Essential Insights
Quantum mechanics opened a technological frontier but demands ways of explaining science.
Fiona Thompson shifted from quantum science studies to English doctoral research.
Her research examines science rhetoric and communication of emerging quantum technologies.
She received a 2026 SSHRC scholarship worth $40,000 annually for three years.
The art of communicating quantum to the masses | Institute for Quantum Computing
Quantum needs a new vocabulary
A century ago, quantum mechanics opened a new frontier in science and technology. It also created a communication challenge. The forces that make an apple fall are familiar. The interaction of light and single particles is not.
That gap matters as quantum technologies emerge. Clear communication can help people understand what these technologies do—and where their practical uses remain uncertain. It should build interest without promising more than the science can deliver.
A humanities lens on quantum research
Fiona Thompson, an Institute for Quantum Computing alumna, is approaching that challenge from an unusual direction. After earning a master’s degree in quantum information, she chose to pursue a PhD in English at the University of Waterloo. Her work focuses on the rhetoric of science and how to communicate emerging quantum technologies.
Thompson recently received a 2026 Canada Graduate Research Scholarship, administered by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. The doctoral award provides $40,000 a year for three years and replaces the Vanier scholarship. Her path reflects a broader point: advancing quantum research takes more than technical expertise. It also takes thoughtful explanations that help audiences weigh both the promise and the limits of new technology.
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