With the 15th and final lecture of the “Modern Science, Technology and Your Love of Country” lecture series, Academician and Dean of the Shenzhen/SUSTech Institute of Quantum Science and Engineering Yu Dapeng lectured on “The Development and Application of Quantum and Information Science.” Director Wang Dejun of the Political Education and Research Center hosted the lecture.

Dean Yu Dapeng covered the history of quantum science from both a quantum mechanical and the traditional physics aspect. Starting with the first quantum revolution, or old quantum theory, he explained that investigations into quantum mechanics and quantum theory reflect the willingness of people to learn more about the world. Quantum is used to describe a discontinuous physical property rather than a particle. Human thinking has been greatly expanded by quantum mechanics and quantum theory.

Dean Yu Dapeng analyzed the strategic significance of developing quantum technology by using artificial intelligence as an example. Artificial intelligence (AI) was born in the 1860s and took a long time to reach the point it is at now. The recent rapid developments in the field have come from substantial improvements in computing power. Further to that, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is challenging the Moore limit, which means that the traditional ceiling on computing power will be broken before long. Developments in quantum computing allow significantly better processing power, finishing tasks in seconds instead of months or years.

Dean Yu Dapeng pointed out that quantum technology is fundamentally interrelated with every aspect of government and people’s lives. Many countries are working hard to develop their strategic direction for quantum technology. China’s integration of quantum technology will continue to strengthen R&D into core technologies, while fostering talents in quantum technology.

He finished his lecture by discussing the achievements of a large number of sub-scientific research institutes at the Shenzhen/SUSTech Institute of Quantum Science and Engineering. He encouraged students to participate in the research of quantum science in the future.