Quantum Zone at European Researchers’ Night 2025: Celebrating the IYQ at V-Klub

_ 02/10/2025_ Diana Cencer Garafová

On September 26, 2025, the V-klub in Bratislava became a place where science, curiosity, and enthusiasm for quantum technologies came together. On the occasion of the International Year of Quantum (IYQ), we joined forces with our partners to prepare an extensive program dedicated to quantum physics and its applications in technology. This year, for Researchers’ Night, we introduced an even larger and more interconnected space – the Quantum Zone – which allowed visitors to literally “walk through” the journey from fundamental principles to today’s cutting-edge technologies.

The Quantum Zone

In the foyer of the V-Klub, we prepared a series of booths arranged so that visitors could explore the principles of the quantum world step by step: from interference and polarization, through photons, superconductivity, and detectors, all the way to qubits, with randomness and geometry as side topics. This concept was met with great enthusiasm, as it allowed visitors not only to observe and understand but also to try out various phenomena with their own hands. Throughout the day, our researchers, together with our high school students, stood by the booths, patiently explaining the experiments and engaging in discussions with the visitors.

We were not present only in Bratislava. Thanks to our partners, activities connected with quantum physics and IYQ 2025 also reached Žilina and Košice. For the first time, we also joined the collaboration on the preparation of the Scientific Courier, which brought the topic of quantum technologies to more than 100 schools directly – in the form of a package full of experiments that students could try out with their teachers during physics classes. In this way, we reached hundreds more young people across different regions of Slovakia and showed them that quantum technologies will play an increasingly important role in the future.

Workshops, talks and discussions

The morning was dedicated to schools – we offered several lectures and workshops that sparked great interest among young visitors as well as teachers. For this part of the program, we aimed to invite a wide range of speakers – from our Slovak colleagues to international guests. The program at V-Klub was opened by Mário Ziman, who introduced the history and development of quantum technologies and highlighted how these discoveries are reshaping our understanding of the world. He was followed by Peter Jedlička from Goethe University in Frankfurt, whose lecture connected quantum topics with neuroscience and demonstrated how boundaries between scientific disciplines can be crossed in a creative and meaningful way. We are proud that another international colleague also accepted our invitation – Patrik Švančara, who took the main stage at Stará tržnica with his lecture Black Holes in a Test Tube, where he presented his current research at the University of Nottingham. The program was further enriched by Professor Vladimír Bužek, who brought a realistic perspective on studying and doing science in Slovakia.

Alongside the exhibition stands, we also prepared a series of workshops that presented quantum phenomena in a hands-on way. Daniel Buchta (Aricoma) guided participants through the basics of quantum computing, explaining why quantum logic is fundamentally different from classical logic. Patrik Švančara (University of Nottingham), in his self-designed laser LEGOratory, demonstrated the principle of interference – a phenomenon underlying modern detection methods, including those used to observe gravitational waves. The workshop series was concluded by Gabriela Kotúčová (QUTE.sk), who focused on light polarization, giving students the chance to experiment with polarizing filters and discover how this effect is applied in quantum communication.

In the afternoon, the program continued with three public discussions, each exploring quantum topics from different perspectives – from technological applications to the societal impact of quantum discoveries, and even their philosophical implications. We were delighted that our friends and colleagues from the popular podcasts Vedátor_sk and Kvantum ideí joined the program at V-Klub, adding yet another dimension to the event. The afternoon also featured the lecture Shapes and Shades of Quantum by Konrad Szymański (RCQI, Institute of Physics SAS), held at the nearby Polish Institute. The program at V-Klub concluded with a screening of the documentary Taming the Quantum World (2013) by Lars Becker-Larsen, which took the audience on a captivating journey into humanity’s efforts to master the quantum realm.

We were thrilled by the interest shown by young people

One of the greatest successes of this year’s edition was the tremendous interest shown by young people. Seeing high school students, as well as younger pupils, explore quantum phenomena and actively participate in discussions confirmed that the topic of quantum technologies is becoming increasingly appealing in Slovakia. We are delighted to have shared knowledge and introduced technologies that students often don’t encounter in school, and many even brought their teachers along. It is encouraging that both students and teachers showed enthusiasm and are already looking forward to our upcoming activities.

Competitions and Young Talents

As part of the 2025 European Researchers’ Night, we also organized competitions for young creative minds. In the art contest, we decided to recognize the works of the students guided by Ms. Laura Uhliarová from the Ladislav Árvay Elementary Art School in Žilina, who expressed their unique perspective on the quantum world through original creations. In the “Kvantohranie” challenge, the expert committee chose not to award a prize this year, but we plan to continue collaborating with the participating authors and teams to further develop their submissions.

Acknowledgements

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all partners and collaborators who contributed to making this exceptional program possible. We are especially grateful to the organizers of the 2025 European Researchers’ Night for providing the space to present quantum technologies to the wider public. The positive feedback from visitors and participants confirms and encourages us that events like this have tremendous value – and we are already looking forward to the next edition.