"Let's Talk About Quantum" – An Art-Embedded Approach to Public Engagement

Dr. Trijsje Franssen , is an academic philosopher of technology and a lecturer at the Ethics and Philosophy of Technology section of 荷兰代尔夫特理工大学 , with a passion for exploring the role of creativity, art, and science fiction in discussions surrounding emerging technologies like AI and quantum technology. She has recently collaborated with members of our centre in the project 'Let's talk about quantum' that aims to foster a meaningful public discussion about quantum technology and its societal impact, using art-embedded engagement.?

The project involved a team of academic researchers from various disciplines. Some key contributors included Dr. Sabine Roeser from the Ethics and Philosophy of Technology section at TU Delft and Dr. Sense Jan van der Molen from LION, Physics Department, Leiden University. Dr. Pieter Vermaas (TU Delft) and Dr. Julia Cramer (Quantum and Society Group at 荷兰莱顿大学 ), members of the Centre for Quantum and Society, also collaborated with the project.?

At the intersection of science and art, this group worked closely with the talented artist, Hannie van den Bergh , to create a video that symbolically reflects the outcome of the co-creative workshop held as part of the study.?

Can you elaborate on the theory and approach behind the workshop??

We noticed a lack of broader public dialogue on the societal impact and ethical implications of quantum technology despite its potential significance. This may relate to the fact that existing approaches to public engagement often rely on reasoning and argumentation in a top-down setting, but we wanted to explore alternative methods. That's why we organized a co-creative workshop focused on the future of quantum technology. The workshop was designed exclusively for non-experts and aimed to provide space for people's moral values, emotions, and imagination, rather than just rational thinking.?

Our group of 10 participants from diverse backgrounds, ages, and professions was divided into smaller groups to discuss questions like "What will your life be like in 30 years? Do you think quantum technology will influence it, and if so, how?" and "What would you want your life to be like in 30 years?"

These discussions informed the basis for creating artistic representations of future scenarios, utilizing various materials like paper, clay, and colored pens.?

What does the video, as a creative reflection of the workshop's output, aim to reflect upon? Why did you choose this particular format and animation??

Besides visualizing the diverse moral values, emotions, thoughts, perspectives, and images that citizens expressed during the workshop regarding the future of quantum technology, the video also aims to stimulate moral-emotional reflection on quantum technology by presenting viewers with a rich palette of possibilities.??

We opted for a poetic and expressive format rather than an explanatory one to evoke feelings and imagination.

The dynamic animations with a wide range of colors, figures, and shapes symbolize both the possibilities of quantum technology and the diversity of citizens' perspectives. Animated text was added to provide context and make explicit connections with elements from the workshop's output.?

The video's symbolism is meant to be thought-provoking. Could you talk more about the symbols used in the video and the reasoning behind their selection??

The symbols were derived from the audio recordings of participants' discussions and their creations during the workshop. Themes, emotions, and moral values that frequently emerged guided our selection process.

We noticed recurring emotions such as fear, anticipation, optimism, and the moral values of sustainability, health, and safety.?

The video opens with a triangular box of possibilities, which reappears in various forms, representing the diverse outcomes of quantum technology. Dots changing into stripes and back symbolize the superposition state of quantum bits. Blue waves, inspired by one of the groups’ creations, represent a sea of quantum data, while the text addresses moral topics like health, climate, and privacy. The video incorporates elements like hands with large nails to evoke questions about control and surveillance, a crucial theme when the groups discussed internet. ?

Although the video has not been presented to different audiences yet, our intention is to present it in different scenarios and groups as part of our research goal, to test whether this artistic form of public engagement can indeed encourage meaningful public discussions on quantum technology.?

Watch the full video here:

Victor Land Deborah Nas Julia Cramer Pieter Vermaas Joris van Hoboken Ulrich Mans Dani?l Frijters Vania López

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