KINGSTON, R.I. – April 13, 2026 – Elected officials and prominent technology leaders shared their knowledge about how quantum computing impacts society and announced a new quantum-humanities mini-grant program for students, during the University of Rhode Island’s fifth annual World Quantum Day event on the Kingston Campus.
The public event held April 10 was part of a worldwide celebration of quantum science and technology, and its increasing impact on research, industry, innovation and society. Launched by quantum scientists from more than 65 countries, the initiative aims to promote a public understanding of quantum physics, and its increasing impact on research, innovation, industry and society.
How quantum physics intersects with the humanities and the overall impact quantum computing can have on society were among multiple topics discussed during World Quantum Day, hosted by URI’s Department of Physics. Other matters that were addressed were whether or not guardrails are needed for quantum computers, quantum computing and the arts, if reality is really real and post-quantum encryption—used to stave off attacks by a quantum computer and secure vital information.
Guest presenters were Rhode Island state Sen. Victoria Gu, D-Westerly—chair of the Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies—Ishann Pakrasi of Amazon Web Services (AWS), SiC Systems founder and URI alum Christopher Savoie ’92, and Charles Robinson of IBM. Suhail Zubairy, the Munnerlyn/Heep Endowed Chair in Quantum Optics at Texas A&M University, delivered the Quantum Day’s keynote address.
Officials, including U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., first toured the future laboratory for Quantum Computing and Technology in URI’s Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering. The lab, scheduled to open in 2028, will be a low-temperature faculty for quantum computing, a clean room to make computing elements sensitive to the environment and an area to review controlled unclassified information.
Reed said World Quantum Day at URI is a celebration of the University’s progress toward being leaders in the quantum realm. Quantum computing and information sciences will be critical for the nation to be competitive, Reed said, both economically and with national security and military—with URI leading the way.
“I anticipate the capability being established here at URI will set a solid foundation for state leadership and quantum computers, and quantum technology,” Reed said. “As with our other technological advances, the best path forward is a partnership between government, industry and academia, and we’re seeing that partnership today.”
The University’s quantum computing research and workforce development initiative was launched in 2021 and supported by a $1 million directed federal Commerce, Justice and Science earmark—which Reed secured.
New mini-grant program
The University’s physics department also announced a new mini-grants program where University undergraduate and graduate students will be eligible to receive financial support for their quantum computing research work. The grants were made possible through a generous sponsorship by Amazon Web Services and URI’s Institute for AI and Computational Research.
Each undergraduate award will provide $1,000 to the student researcher and $250 to the faculty advisor for their work exploring the intersection of quantum computing with either the arts, social sciences or the humanities. The graduate awards will provide $2,000 to eligible students and $1,000 to their faculty advisor for research on the societal impact of quantum computing.
“We anticipate that the results of these mini-grants will generate roadmaps for those developing quantum computing to better harness our products for the benefit of society,” URI Physics Department Chair Leonard Kahn said.
Additionally, AWS will support mini-grant recipients’ use of Amazon Braket— quantum computing service helps researchers and developers use quantum computers and simulators to build quantum algorithms on AWS—for their submission-related research.
The mini-grants are open to all URI undergraduate and graduate students. Proposals from students outside of science, technology, engineering and math disciplines are highly encouraged. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 1, at 5 p.m. Awards will be announced on Thursday, May 7. Students will present their finished research work during the 2027 World Quantum Day event at URI.
For additional information about the program and to apply for the mini-grants, contact URI Department of Physics chair Leonard Kahn at lenkahn@uri.edu.
