This newsletter offers news and opportunities in quantum education and workforce development. If you would also like to subscribe to the QCORE main newsletter, you can do so here.
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FREE presentation for Montana classrooms:
Virtual Quantum Extravaganza
for World Quantum Day
Wednesday, April 8 at 11am [ONLINE]
MSU hosts Dr. John Donohue, Scientific Outreach Manager, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo
World Quantum Day is April 14! In early celebration, MSU’s QCORE has invited John Donohue to put on an engaging and fascinating show exploring Quantum Science through hands-on demos and activities! Middle and High School classrooms from around the state and region are invited to attend and participate.
Register here
| | MSU QCaMP now accepting applications for free June 22-26 quantum experience for teachers | | |
Montana State University is again partnering with Sandia National Laboratory to offer QCaMP: Quantum Computing, Math and Physics for Educators. The event will be hosted in Bozeman on June 22-26, 2026 and is open to Montana middle and high school teachers as well as community college instructors.
Discover:
- New fun ways to teach and explore quantum science in your classroom;
- Resources for lesson plans and other ready-to-go activities to incorporate into your existing curriculum
- Discussion points about how quantum science can transform society
Montana teachers will also visit QCORE to see its three quantum computers, the ORCA room-temperature photonic systems (MSU has two) and the super-conducting Rigetti in a BlueFors cryogenic chamber as well as QCORE's business incubator, the Catalyst Lab.
Applications are now open through Friday, April 10, 2026.
Apply through Sandia National Laboratories and choose Montana State University.
Questions? Email QuantumEducation@montana.edu
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Will you be at NSTA?
If you are attending this spring’s National Science Teaching Association Conference in Anaheim, CA look for Jeannie Chipps and Molly Iversen from QCORE. They will be co-presenting at the Informal Science Share-a-thon on Friday, April 17, from 2pm-4pm.
Quantum Community Engagement: Bringing Quantum to All through Community Outreach Events and Summer Camps
We will share ready-to-use and inexpensive Quantum activities and resources designed for all age groups, addressing superposition, entanglement, and quantum computing/communication concepts. Participants will learn about Quantum 1.0 and 2.0 technologies and how educators can share these with others in exciting spaces, based on our Quantum outreach experience at museums, career fairs and summer camps. Our booth includes materials for a take-home activity.
Participants will come away with an introduction to emerging Quantum technologies and concepts and will gain a sense of the impact and importance of this field that can be shared with students and the public.
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April 1 and April 22 - QCORE Seminar Series focuses on Education and Workforce development
Each Wednesday afternoon at 4pm, QCORE hosts a seminar series featuring MSU faculty, students, staff and visiting scholars. Two of the upcoming talks focus on education and workforce development.
On Wednesday, April 1, Mark Craig from Gallatin College will speak about workforce development from a two-year college perspective.
On Wednesday, April 22, the Science Math Resource Center team will present on their education and outreach programming along with Dr. Craig Ogilvie from MSU's Department of Physics, who will present on current and future initiatives for undergraduate and graduate students at MSU.
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GC-360 is Gallatin College’s hands-on career exploration event—bringing students, families, educators, and community members together to experience today’s most in-demand careers up close. From welding and healthcare to photonics, IT, education, and hospitality, GC-360 invites you to step into real programs, meet industry partners, and see what’s possible—before making your next move.
The MSU Science Math Resource Center is heading up the Photonics and Quantum World at this event. At least eight photonics or quantum-related industry partners will participate and provide career pathway information for students. In addition, Lattice is offering tours of their facility for a limited number of high school attendees.
GC-360 A World of Career and Technical Education
Thursday, April 23 from 9am - 2pm
Gallatin County Fairgrounds
Bozeman, Montana
Find out more or register to attend, participate, or sponsor here
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Call for Participants, Exhibitors and Sponsors for the 2026 STEM Summer Institute, August 3-5 in Bozeman!
Join us for the 8th Annual STEM Summer Institute, a one-of-a-kind, Montana-made professional learning experience designed for K-12 educators. Leave with practical strategies, classroom-ready resources, and renewed confidence to integrate STEM in ways that are relevant, rigorous, and engaging for students. Engage in breakout sessions and learning experiences of your choice, collaboration with peers, get inspired by our keynote speaker and national and local STEM educators.
Visit the QCORE booth and attend our session on how to bring quantum into your classroom.
If you are a business or organization, please consider becoming a sponsor or exhibitor. The prices are very reasonable, and Exhibitors and sponsors will have the opportunity to showcase products and services to a wide audience of education professionals who are passionate about STEM.
| | | | Science Math Resource Center QCORE Intern Rebekah Yager is a recent recipient of the prestigious Founders Day Award at MSU. She was nominated based on her incredible work in Quantum Education at SMRC. Rebekah is a Computer Science and English major who is set to graduate this spring. Congratulations Rebekah! | |  | |
From dino poop to quantum physics, MSU Science Night has it all
The Feb. 12 issue of the MSU Exponent featured an overview of MSU's Family Science Day and a short mention of MSU's QCORE booth: "Yes, we are teaching quantum physics to fifth graders."
| | | Opportunities from our partners | | |
Free graduate course from MSU: Computer Science in the Classroom: Joy and Beauty of Data
Montana State University will offer a FREE Master of Science in Science Education (MSSE) course for Montana teachers, “Computer Science in the Classroom: Joy and Beauty of Data,” in a hybrid online/in-person format through MSU-Bozeman this summer. The course will begin on June 15, 2026 and end on July 10th, 2026. June 15-19th will be online and asynchronous with reading assignments. June 22 - 26 will be in person on the MSU - Bozeman campus with on-campus housing that is free for Montana teachers. June 29 - July 10 will be online and asynchronous reading and homework assignments.
The 2-credit course is intended for 7-12th grade teachers who want to learn how to incorporate computational thinking concepts into their classrooms. In addition, teachers who take the course will be introduced to the broad area of data science and will extend their knowledge of the Python programming language. High school teachers who complete the course can potentially teach the following two dual enrollment courses: CSCI 107, The Joy and Beauty of Computing and CSCI 127, The Joy and Beauty of Data.
The Joy and Beauty of Data, CSCI 582, will be taught by Hunter Lloyd, Professor in the Gianforte School of Computing, Montana State University.
Montana teachers can receive a tuition waiver and free housing for the in-person portion of this class. For more information and how to apply, please contact the MSSE Program at msse@montana.edu.
You can learn about the course here.
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The PhET Quantum Education Initiative is building the next generation of quantum education simulations — spanning foundational concepts like probability and how light and matter behave at tiny scales, through advanced topics like superposition and entanglement — for learners from middle grades through graduate school and into the workforce.
They seek people across the quantum ecosystem — K-12 educators, college faculty, informal science educators, researchers, curriculum developers, organizational leaders, and industry professionals — to help shape these tools and how they're used to support student learning and engagement.
This initiative is led by the PhET team, working with physics education researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder and California State University Fullerton, with funding from the National Science Foundation (IUSE) and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Learn more about apply to join the team.
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Two-day (all expenses paid) workshop on scientific methods and modeling using vacuum equipment and a free vacuum system for your school
The AVS (American Vacuum Society) is offering a two day, free, STEM workshop with high school ready lessons that integrate science, math and engineering using hands-on vacuum technology based activities.
This year’s Science Educators’ Workshop will be November 9 - 10, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Regional AVS chapters typically pay travel and lodging costs to send a teacher from their region to this hands-on workshop.
Teachers receive continuing education credit and most schools are eligible to receive an equipment grant including a new vacuum pump and vacuum jar. The workshop includes an onsite visit to a major industrial or research laboratory. High school science teachers are encouraged to apply by September 18 for sponsorship to attend this workshop at https://avs.org/education/science-educators-workshop/
| | | These Quantum education and workforce development programs are led by the MSU Science Math Resource Center as part of Montana State University's QCORE. | |
Learn more about QCORE
Subscribe to QCORE's monthly newsletter to learn more about what's going on in all aspects of Montana State University's Applied Quantum CORE. Subscribe here
If you are a business or organization and would like to learn more about partnering with QCORE, contact Kala Radovich, director of strategic partnerships, at kala.radovich@montana.edu
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