After attending the inaugural Mizzou Quantum Day last year, I knew I wanted to return. On Oct. 9, I joined the second annual event, this time with the opportunity to represent MOREnet on the Missouri Industry and Government Panel.
What stayed with me most was how many people wanted to talk about K–12 education. Throughout the day, conversations returned to preparing students and making sure schools and community colleges have a place in Missouri’s quantum efforts. It was encouraging to hear that interest from people working across research, industry and government.
MOREnet’s presence helped bring a classroom perspective into those conversations. As we discuss what quantum technologies could mean for Missouri, educators have valuable insight into how students encounter unfamiliar ideas and what support makes learning possible.
The message I wanted to share was the importance of investing in K–12 quantum literacy. Abstract concepts become more approachable when students can explore them through simple, hands-on activities, ask questions and connect what they discover to something they already understand. Teachers need opportunities to experience that learning themselves, along with resources and support to bring it into their classrooms.
That investment gives more students a chance to participate in the quantum conversation. They can begin building vocabulary, recognizing ideas and discovering questions they want to explore further.
I left encouraged by the interest in including educators—and eager to help turn those conversations into learning opportunities for Missouri classrooms.