From 21 to 23 January 2017, the first UTS Quantum Computing Science School (QCSS) was held in the FEIT building at the University of Technology Sydney. This event was co-organised by teams from the Centre for Quantum Software (UTS:QSI), and the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences (IIIS) at Tsinghua University. The School was co-ordinated by Dr Youming Qiao from UTS:QSI, and received strong support from the Faculty Dean, Prof Ian Burnett.
The School was originally proposed by Prof Andrew Yao from Tsinghua University to Prof Runyao Duan and Distinguished Prof Mingsheng Ying at UTS:QSI. Prof Andrew Yao received the 2000 Turing award, the most prestigious award in computer science, for his fundamental contribution to the theory of computation. He joined Tsinghua University from Princeton University in 2004, and found the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences (IIIS) there. Since then, the IIIS has become a world-leading institute in theoretical computer science and quantum information. Prof Yao also founded an undergraduate class at Tsinghua, now known as Yao’s class, which has attracted top Chinese students in computer science.
On 20 January, 30 junior undergraduates from Yao’s class arrived in Sydney to participate in the School. The lecturers for the School are renowned experts in the area of quantum information and quantum computation, including Prof Runyao Duan, Prof Yuan Feng, and Prof Zhengfeng Ji from UTS:QSI, and Asst Prof Xiongfeng Ma, and Asst Prof Ran Duan from Tsinghua. At the three day School, the students were exposed to exciting topics at the frontier of quantum computer science. At the 'problem' session, students were highly motivated to solve a couple of open problems from the classes. Prof Mingsheng Ying attended the problem session and encouraged these talented students to work on this emerging and critical area.
The event concluded with a wonderful dinner at the UTS Aerial Function Centre. Guests included the FEIT Associate Dean (Research) Prof Jie Lu, Head of the School of Software Prof Michael Blumenstein and other UTS:QSI researchers. UTS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Prof Glenn Wightwick delivered a warm speech at the event and fruitful discussions occurred with IIIS about ongoing collaborations.
The QCSS has been successful in raising the students' enthusiasm for quantum computer science. Both Universities have expressed an interest in continuing the School in the near future.