LaGuardia Community College Faculty Host Conference Marking 100 Years of Quantum Physics
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (March 26, 2025) — LaGuardia Community College/CUNY will host an interdisciplinary conference, “100 Years of Quantum Physics,” on Wednesday, April 2, from 2:15 to 6 p.m. in Room E-242, LaGuardia’s E-Building (enter at 45-50 Van Dam St.). No RSVP required. Online participation is available.
The conference, open to the public, welcomes seasoned physicists, aspiring engineers, or curious students. It is part of UNESCO’s International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025 initiative. The organizing committee includes Dr. Roman Senkov and Dr. Daniel Capic (Natural Sciences), Dr. Frank Wang (Mathematics, Engineering, and Computer Science, known as MEC), and Dr. J. Elizabeth (Liz) Clark (English).
Presentations will cover the history of quantum mechanics, overlooked women in science, daily applications of quantum technology, and the search of new physics. Details, including the program speaker bios, are available on the conference webpage.
“This conference features talks by talented and dedicated LaGuardia professors and distinguished scientists from neighboring institutions,” said Dr. Daniel Capic, who joined LaGuardia in 2022. “It is a reflection of LaGuardia’s strong STEM academics. One speaker, Karan Kumar, a LaGuardia alumnus and Ph.D. student at Columbia University, is researching neutrino physics.”
“Quantum research bridges disciplines like physics, engineering, biology, computer science, and literature,” said Dr. Senkov. “For example, Professor Liz Clark will discuss how children’s STEM fiction introduces young readers to complex quantum concepts such as black holes, quantum entanglement, and the multiverse.”
Dr. Frank Wang, a member of the CUNY 2X Tech Academy at LaGuardia, plans to discuss post-quantum cryptography and algorithms. “Protocols safeguarding text messages, financial transactions, and medical records need quantum-proof methods,” he said.
The year 2025 marks the centenary of Werner Heisenberg’s publication on quantum mechanics, a fundamental theory in physics describing atomic and subatomic particles. Quantum mechanics, a subset of quantum physics, has led to technologies like lasers, MRI, transistors, computer chips, LEDs, and GPS.
UNESCO highlights quantum science’s impact: “Quantum science and technology drive groundbreaking innovations, touching every aspect of modern science and technology. It holds immense potential to address society’s most pressing challenges, from environmental sensing to public health and climate change mitigation.”
The conference is supported by LaGuardia’s Natural Sciences Department, MEC Department, and the Queens STEM Academy. Q-STEM, launched in March 2022 with a $4.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, prepares Hispanic and low-income students for STEM fields. It enhances STEM education, streamlines transfers to Queens College, and provides career guidance.
For more information, contact Dr. Daniel Capic, Dr. Roman Senkov, or Dr. Frank Wang.
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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
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