Quantum Technologies and Sustainability Seminar Series

Research and innovation in the context of climate change

With perspectives from both physicists and philosophers, this interdisciplinary series will address recent research on quantum technologies (QTs). Seminars will explore the significance of climate change for quantum innovation, address how QTs can be applied in different sectors for sustainability and discuss how we can minimize the environmental impact of quantum technologies. All sessions will take place online, please use the registration link or QR code below to sign-up.

Organized by Dr. Dakota Root and Professor Amélie Favreau within TIQuA at the Université Grenoble Alpes.

Seminar Schedule

Date & Time	Seminar's Topic
September 11^th 16:30 - 17:30 Central European Time (CET)	Quantum technologies in the Anthropocene Professor Vincent Lam, Institute of Philosophy & Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern This talk will consider quantum technologies ("sustainable" or not) in the context of the climate––and more broadly: Anthropocene––challenges, from a (political) philosophy of science perspective, in particular relying on recent work on the role of ("non-epistemic") values in (climate and Earth system) science and modeling. Watch the replay
October 16^th 16:30 - 17:30 CET	Responsible quantum innovation should be sustainable Dr. Dakota Root, Institute de Philosophie de Grenoble, Université Grenoble Alpes This talk argues that responsible quantum innovation should include a sustainability dimension. It will discuss sustainable quantum technologies (QTs), considering both QTs with sustainability applications and QTs that are developed sustainably. Watch the replay
November 13^th 15:00 - 16:00 CET	Quantum for sustainability Dr. Karl Thibault, Institut Quantique, Université Sherbrooke This talk will first provide a wide overview of the potential of quantum technologies for sustainability, then review past and ongoing efforts at this interface, and finally discuss tangible use-cases for climate change, sustainable development and the energy transition. Watch the replay
December 11^th 16:30 - 17:30 CET	Evaluating the footprint of quantum technologies that do not exist (yet) Dr. Rob Whitney, LPMMC, CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes In the past, the environmental footprint of a new technology was rarely considered until after that technology was deployed. Yet, in a world of finite resources, it seems untenable to do the same for future technologies (such as quantum technologies). This talk will discuss whether we can evaluate the environmental footprint of a future quantum computer, when we do not know what such a computer will be made of.

Date & Time

Seminar's Topic

September 11^th

16:30 - 17:30 Central European Time (CET)

Quantum technologies in the Anthropocene

Professor Vincent Lam, Institute of Philosophy & Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern

This talk will consider quantum technologies ("sustainable" or not) in the context of the climate––and more broadly: Anthropocene––challenges, from a (political) philosophy of science perspective, in particular relying on recent work on the role of ("non-epistemic") values in (climate and Earth system) science and modeling.

Watch the replay

October 16^th

16:30 - 17:30 CET

Responsible quantum innovation should be sustainable

Dr. Dakota Root, Institute de Philosophie de Grenoble, Université Grenoble Alpes

This talk argues that responsible quantum innovation should include a sustainability dimension. It will discuss sustainable quantum technologies (QTs), considering both QTs with sustainability applications and QTs that are developed sustainably.

Watch the replay

November 13^th

15:00 - 16:00 CET

Quantum for sustainability

Dr. Karl Thibault, Institut Quantique, Université Sherbrooke

This talk will first provide a wide overview of the potential of quantum technologies for sustainability, then review past and ongoing efforts at this interface, and finally discuss tangible use-cases for climate change, sustainable development and the energy transition.

Watch the replay

December 11^th

16:30 - 17:30 CET

Evaluating the footprint of quantum technologies that do not exist (yet)

Dr. Rob Whitney, LPMMC, CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes

In the past, the environmental footprint of a new technology was rarely considered until after that technology was deployed. Yet, in a world of finite resources, it seems untenable to do the same for future technologies (such as quantum technologies). This talk will discuss whether we can evaluate the environmental footprint of a future quantum computer, when we do not know what such a computer will be made of.