Kuantikaz Blai! (Quantum-Drenched!) by courtesy of Kutxa Fundazioa and DIPC

Kutxa Fundazioa and DIPC have organized a special programme to celebrate the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. 2025 has become a particularly significant year, as it will mark a scientific milestone in the quantum field in the Basque Country with the opening of the Ikerbasque building that will be housing IBM’s quantum computer Quantum System 2 on the Ibaeta Campus in Donostia / San Sebastian.

This exciting piece of scientific news has sparked public interest in quantum physics and its possible applications. That is why this year it will be the central theme of the science outreach talks organized by Kutxa Fundazioa and DIPC, who have long collaborated on these initiatives. The aim is to explain the key features and peculiarities of quantum physics in an accessible way, and to raise awareness of the “second quantum revolution” we are currently experiencing, highlighting the possibilities and benefits offered by advances in quantum techonologies. Leading scientists and science communicators have been invited to offer informative talks over the coming months in the Kutxa Fundazioa Kluba room at Tabakalera. The talks, which will be in Basque and Spanish, are free of charge, open to the general public, an require no prior registration.

The first event will take place on 14 May with Physicist Arantzazu García-Lekue, an Ikerbasque Research Professor at DIPC and expert in nanoelectronics. In her talk "Aldatu txipa, murgildu kuantikan" (“Change the chip, get immersed in quantum matters!"), Garcia-Lekue will invite as to explore the fascinating world of atoms and the nanoscale. This invisible world, governed by laws that defy our intuition, will be made accessible through clear, understandable language. The talk will introduce the key principles of quantum physics, and show how many eceryday devices and applications already rely on them. Attendees will learn about the emerging technologies being developed in the fields of communication and computing. Shortened “pill” videos of the talk will later be made available for use in the education system.

On 2 September, renowned mathematician and science communicator Eduardo Sáenz de Cabezón will present his talk “Manotazos en una habitación oscura. La llegada de la computación cuántica” (“Hand Slaps in a Dark Room: The Advent of Quantum Computing”). With a degree in Theology and a PhD in Mathematics, he is a tenured lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Computing at the University of La Rioja, where he conducts research in the field of computational algebra. Sáenz de Cabezón is widely known for his work in popularizing mathematics. He is a founding member of the science monologue group The Big Van Theory, the screenwriter and host of the Derivando YouTube channel, the presenter of the TV programme Órbita Laika (La 2, RTVE), and the author of several popular science books.

The talks will take place in Kutxa Fundazioa Kluba Room (Tabakalera centre, 1st floor):

14 May, 18:30 hrs
Aldatu txipa, murgildu kuantikan (Change the chip, get immersed in quantum matters)
Arantzazu Garcia-Lekue, Physicist
DIPC, Ikerbasque
Language: Basque

2 September, 18:30 hrs
Manotazos en una habitación oscura. La llegada de la computación cuántica. (“Hand slaps in a dark room. The advent of quantum computing”).
Eduardo Sáenz de Cabezón, Mathematician.
University of La Rioja
Language: Spanish

Access to the talks:
The talks are free of charge and require no registration. They will later be available on the YouTube channels of DIPC and Kutxa Fundazioa.