TU/e and De Ontdekfabriek Launch Educational Quantum Experience for Students to Learn About Cutting-Edge Technology

TU/e and De Ontdekfabriek Launch Educational Quantum Experience for Students to Learn About Cutting-Edge Technology

(IN BRIEF) ‘The Inventors and the Quantum Code’ is a new interactive educational program launching on May 21, 2025. Designed for elementary and high school students, it introduces quantum concepts through an engaging escape room-style experience. Developed by TU/e scientists and De Ontdekfabriek, the activity features hands-on experiments and a fun storyline that encourages students to learn about key quantum principles like superposition and qubits. With input from physics teachers and educational experts, the program provides an innovative and accessible approach to teaching quantum physics. The initiative is co-funded by Quantum Delta NL and will be available at De Ontdekfabriek in Eindhoven.

(PRESS RELEASE) EINDHOVEN, 21-May-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Starting on May 21, 2025, a new educational activity, ‘The Inventors and the Quantum Code’, will be available for elementary and high school students in the Netherlands. This interactive experience, developed in collaboration with the scientists from TU/e and De Ontdekfabriek, introduces young people to the fascinating world of quantum technology in a fun and engaging way. The activity, designed like an escape room, allows students to step into the shoes of quantum researchers as they solve a mysterious code to help a schoolgirl, Amani, escape a computer.

As part of this adventure, participants engage in hands-on experiments that introduce fundamental quantum concepts such as superposition, qubits, and tunneling. These concepts, which are often difficult for even adults to grasp, are made accessible and enjoyable for children in their final year of elementary school and high school students. The interactive format encourages curiosity and problem-solving, all while learning about quantum mechanics in an approachable and entertaining way.

TU/e’s Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute (EHCI), a center for quantum and photonics research, worked closely with De Ontdekfabriek, a renowned educational center, and experts from the educational field to create this curriculum. The project also features an introductory film, in which TU/e professor Servaas Kokkelmans plays a key role. Kokkelmans and his colleagues hope the program will inspire the next generation of engineers to explore the possibilities of quantum physics in an engaging, hands-on manner.

Simon de Groot, a physics teacher involved in the development, emphasizes how the program effectively simplifies complex quantum mechanics concepts, making them not only understandable but also enjoyable for students. With a focus on both fun and education, the activity is expected to be a valuable addition to the current curriculum for young learners. It will be available at De Ontdekfabriek, located at the former Philips site in Eindhoven, from May 21, co-funded by Quantum Delta NL, which is part of the Netherlands’ National Growth Fund initiative dedicated to advancing the national quantum ecosystem.

The activity ‘The Inventors and the Quantum Code’ is suitable for elementary school students in their final year, as well as high school students. It can be booked at De Ontdekfabriek starting May 21, 2025. Image: Chantal de Jong (deregisseur.com)

About De Ontdekfabriek

De Ontdekfabriek, located on the former Philips site at Strijp-S in Eindhoven, offers children playful and hands-on introductions to the world of science, technology, and design.

Its activities are closely aligned with primary and secondary school curricula.

Watch the trailer for ‘The Inventors and the Quantum Code’.

Media Contact:

Martijn van Best
Press Officer
+ 31 (0)6 484 226 35
m.m.h.v.best@tue.nl

SOURCE: TU/e