Meeting the Needs of the Global Quantum Science Community: A Call to Action

TL;DR

This paper highlights the urgent need for diversity and inclusion in the global quantum science community, emphasizing intersectionality and proposing policy actions based on survey findings to support marginalized groups.

Contribution

It provides a survey-based analysis of diversity challenges in quantum science and offers policy recommendations to improve inclusion and retention of marginalized groups.

Findings

Marginalized quantum scientists face greater hardships across all metrics.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (EDI) efforts improve talent retention.

Supporting marginalized groups enhances the resilience of the quantum ecosystem.

Abstract

2025 marks one hundred years since the discovery of quantum mechanics. In the century since then, quantum science has blossomed into a global community composed of academics, engineers, developers, and entrepreneurs. The world is currently in the middle of the so-called second quantum revolution, with increased public awareness of quantum science and technology, and growing investment in both quantum hardware and software applications. However, representation remains low among historically marginalized groups: women, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and people from the global south make up disproportionately few physicists. There are numerous efforts to improve diversity within quantum science, including through workforce development. But many of the changes enacted at the highest levels have failed to result in real change, as highlighted and discussed in the recent Women For Quantum Manifesto of Values. Here, we seek to echo and amplify the need for real change in the quantum ecosystem, emphasizing intersectionality and a feminist approach that centers the most vulnerable members of the quantum community: young students and researchers, especially those communities historically marginalized from quantum science. This report is our attempt to help quantum communities meet this need; we have conducted a survey of quantum scientists all over the world, and here we include both a preliminary report of our findings and policy suggestions we have built to address them. The primary results of our survey are that, 1) marginalized quantum scientists are experiencing hardships and challenges more than their more privileged peers across all metrics, 2) that this fact is hurting retention of diverse, talented quantum scientists in our field, and 3) quantum EDI is an investment in talent retention and resilience building, which are essential for a thriving, globally competitive quantum ecosystem.