Navigating Physics: Student Experiences and Challenges

This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast features an interview with Margaret Arakawa. She is chief marketing officer at IonQ – which makes trapped ion quantum computers. An economist by training, Arakawa spent 25 years in the (classical) computing industry before joining IonQ. We chat about why she made the move to the quantum sector and about the wide range of opportunities for non-physicists in the quantum-technology industry.

Arakawa also talks about the challenges of marketing quantum technology to customers who might not understand the underlying physics and explains why the quantum industry must avoid hype.

Our second guest is Nat Mendelsohn, who represents the English Midlands on the Institute of Physics’ Student Community Panel. He talks to Physics World’s Katherine Skipper about the student experience – what is good and what can be improved. He also explains how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a profound impact on higher education.

Finally, I chat with Skipper about her trip to Prague for the 42nd International Conference on High Energy Physics. High on the agenda was what collider of the future will be the successor of the Large Hadron Collider.