The Department of Energy is asking higher education institutions what they need to develop curriculum for quantum information science.
In a request for information notice posted Monday, the agency said it is seeking input from academia in compliance with the National Quantum Initiative Act and 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The latter directs DOE’s Office of Science and national laboratories to assist in the promotion of QIS in schools.
In 2021, DOE held a QIS workshop which led to the recommendation that the demand and supply sides of the field should both contribute to curriculum development. The supply side involves financial support for educational research and degrees. The demand side is comprised of the areas of research, development and manufacturing of QIS technologies.
DOE would contribute by providing QIS employment opportunities, as it currently does through its national labs. On the supply side, it would help through training programs, internships and fellowships for students and faculty.
The agency is requesting feedback on the essential skills that could be offered by the educational institutions to train new QIS employees. It also wants to understand the types of degrees and training the schools already provide.
RFI responses are due by April 20.
