In a world where traditional economic systems are being challenged, the concept of local currencies is gaining traction as a powerful tool for community empowerment and social innovation. In the latest episode of the podcast, host Hanna Siemaszko welcomes Dr. Gilles Evrard Essuman, a research associate at LISER specializing in social innovation and community economies. Their engaging conversation focuses on the intricacies of local currencies, participatory action research, and the transformative potential of grassroots movements.

Do you know how many local currencies there are in Europe and which country leads the way? Listen to the pub quiz segment to find out.

USEFUL LINKS

More about Dr. Gilles Evrard Essuman - https://liser.elsevierpure.com/en/persons/gilles-evrard-essuman

Interview with Dr. Gilles Evrard Essuman on the Research Luxembourg page - https://www.researchluxembourg.org/en/in-conversation-with-our-young-researchers-gilles-evrard-essuman/

La Doume - https://doume.org/

Le Biau Jardin - https://www.lebiaujardin.org/

Social Business Incubator - https://socialbusinessincubator.lu/en/home/

BEKI - https://www.beki.lu/

iNaturalist - https://www.inaturalist.org

More about the REGEN project - https://www.schroeder.lu/fr/a-propos/actualites/pour-une-energie-urbaine-renouvelable

With the advent of quantum computers, traditional cryptographic methods face unprecedented threats. In the latest episode of our podcast, we invited two guests from the Applied Security and Information Assurance (APSIA) Group at SnT (University of Luxembourg to discuss it: Prof. Peter Ryan and Dr. Peter Roenne.

Listeners will discover how quantum key distribution (QKD) works (or as Prof. Ryan calls it: quantum key establishment), leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics to create secure communication channels. The conversation also touches on the engineering challenges involved in implementing these technologies, particularly as we move toward a future where quantum computers may become a reality.

USEFUL LINKS

APSIA group - https://www.uni.lu/snt-en/research-groups/apsia/

Quantum algorithm article on Quanta Magazine Hanna mentioned - https://www.quantamagazine.org/quantum-speedup-found-for-huge-class-of-hard-problems-20250317/

Prof. Peter Ryan's publications - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=k2Uy_t4AAAAJ&hl=en

More about Dr. Peter Roenne - https://sites.google.com/site/peterroenne/

No-cloning theorem - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-cloning_theorem

This week we enter the Quantum Day celebrations starting with an episode with Professor Ignacio Cirac, a distinguished theoretical physicist and director at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics.

Professor Cirac begins by addressing a common sentiment surrounding quantum physics: fear and confusion. He emphasises that the threshold for understanding these concepts is surprisingly low, and with the right explanations, anyone can grasp the fundamentals. This is particularly important as we navigate the intricate world of quantum computers, which, although not fully realised yet, promise to solve problems far beyond the capabilities of classical computers.

One of the key concepts discussed is the notion of qubits, the building blocks of quantum computing. Unlike traditional bits, which can exist in a state of 0 or 1, qubits can inhabit multiple states simultaneously, thanks to the principle of superposition. This unique property allows quantum computers to perform calculations at unprecedented speeds.

The conversation also touches upon the critical issue of error correction in quantum computing. As quantum systems are inherently delicate, errors can easily arise during calculations. Professor Cirac explains the advancements in error correction methods that have been made in recent years, highlighting the balance between correcting errors and not introducing new ones.

As the episode progresses, listeners learn about the various applications of quantum computing, from cryptography to optimisation problems in industries such as logistics and material science. Professor Cirac expresses his excitement about the potential for quantum computers to simulate complex physical systems, which could lead to breakthroughs in science and technology.

The episode also contains a thought-provoking pub quiz question: how many qubits would be required for a quantum computer to crack modern encryption methods? Listen to it all to find out!

USEFUL LINKS

Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics - https://www.mpq.mpg.de/en

Prof. Ignacio Cirac on Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gPGlTbgAAAAJ&hl=en

Prof Ignacio Cirac - Video Portrait - https://youtu.be/c8RmEDH4cDg?feature=shared