Art of Quantum 2021 Winners Announced
Art competition exploring beauty, creativity in the world of quantum science and engineering.
The Art of Quantum, an outreach project with the newly created Eddleman Center for Quantum Innovation at UCSB is excited to announce the winners of the first competition celebrating creative quantum science visualization and communication targeting the general public. Our ECQI faculty and staff judging panel selected the top 2 winners through an examination of both image and caption. Judges were impressed with the submissions demonstrating the ways in which quantum technologies are being explored and their potential applications. The competition was open to students starting in high school on through to postdoctoral trainees across the country with the goal of building science communication opportunities. The winning images will be displayed in the lobby of UCSB’s Elings Hall starting in November of 2021 and on the ECQI website. Our scientist-artists are also creating short accompanying videos for the website to further discuss their inspiration and motivation.
"It is a fun twist to see so many familiar images, simulations, and data seen through an artistic lens; it reminds us of the many beauties of science, and quantum science in particular. We are thrilled to have the support of the Eddleman Center for Quantum Innovation for the Art of Quantum," says Physics Professor Ania Bleszynski Jayich.
First Place: Woven With Electrons
Artist
Brenden Ortiz
Postdoctoral Scholar
Wilson Lab and Quantum Foundry
Description
The striking colors and patterns of a new kagome lattice promises to provide researchers with a bounty of new physics. Named for an ancient style of basket weaving – but woven from electrons instead of fiber – the interlaced stars and hexagons showcase Nature’s handicraft.
The 2021 first place winner, Brenden Ortiz, postdoctoral researcher at UCSB, hit it out of the park with this crafty submission. He invites viewers to explore next-generation quantum materials through pattern and color along with accessible analogies of basket weaving and flowing rivers that mesh ancient and future technologies in ‘Woven with Electrons’. His explanation inspires the everyday viewer to gain appreciation for nature and the order created in a crystal lattice.
Second Place: Glowing Atomic Clover
Artists
Yifei Bai and Jared Pagett
Graduate Students
Weld Lab
Description
Atoms cooled to almost absolute zero are ideal sources for emerging quantum technology. However, a typical apparatus usually takes up most space of an entire lab. This image shows our attempt at a compact, low-power apparatus trapping millions of Strontium (Sr) atoms inside.
Second place went to physics graduate students, Yifei Bai and Jared Pagett, for their ‘Glowing Atomic Clover’. A lucky small scale solution demonstrates a new light in the challenge to eliminate atomic noise and decrease the size of lab equipment needed to explore the smallest of the small.
People’s Choice: I'll believe it when I see it!
Artist
Kira Wyckoff
Graduate Student
Seshadri Lab and Quantum Foundry
Description
Can you see the hexagonal pattern? Every material is composed of atoms so small we cannot see them with our naked eyes. With the help of advanced microscopy techniques, we can literally see the molybdenum atoms that make up a special Kagome lattice.
For the People’s Choice award, we welcomed public input through an open poll and participants agreed with material science graduate student, Kira Wyckoff ‘I’ll believe it when I see it!’. Sometimes you just need to see with your own eyes to make sense of the world, but how do you see at the atomic level? Kira illustrates the scientific importance of making informed predictions based on prior knowledge and collecting data that in her case resulted in the elation of discovery.
About the Project
The Art of Quantum outreach project extends a huge thank you to all those that submitted work and joined our efforts this year. The winning scientist-artists have all been awarded with prizes that fund individual professional development that will increase career of choice success. Additional acknowledgements go to Professor Amanda Stansell of the Writing Program for her guidance in caption writing and Dr. Kitty Yeung for sharing a career story exploring science, engineering, design and art. More information can be found on our website https://aoq-ecqi.cnsi.ucsb.edu/ Inquiries and comments regarding the project can be directed to art-ecqi@cnsi.ucsb.edu.
