MINDtheGEPs Open Forum - Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Quantum Technologies

MINDtheGEPs hosts a series of Open Forum discussions on gender equality in the academic and research & innovation sector. The aim of the forum is to facilitate knowledge exchange and mutual learning among scholars, practitioners, and professionals supporting gender equality policies and measures. The first in the series is focused on equality, diversity, and inclusion in quantum technologies, with a keynote presentation by Oxana Mishina, a theoretical physicist from the National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Optics (CNR-INO). ABSTRACT In 2018 a ten-year initiative called Quantum Flagship was launched by the European Commission. It brings together a diverse community of members from academia, industry, and policy-making; with the scope of bringing new Quantum Technologies (QT) from the research labs to the use of society. From the start, a voluntary Gender Balance in QT - Working group was formed within the community aiming to raise awareness and develop a coherent and efficient strategy for the realization of gender equality in Quantum Technologies. Two years after, a new sub-community focused on education and outreach emerged, with its own voluntary working group on Equity and Inclusion. This year the Gender Ballance in QT Working Group has transformed into an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Working Group, expanding the diversity dimension, with a dedicated budget from the Quantum Flagship. In the Open Forum, Oxana Mishina will present the activities and experience of these two working groups among which there is a community survey, unconscious bias training, and policy advice. ABOUT OXANA MISHINA Oxana Mishina is a theoretical physicist from the National Institute of Optics (CNR-INO). She worked in several European countries as a researcher in theoretical physics and in physics education. Currently, she works in Italy, Trieste at the National Institute of Optics - CNR as a team member of a European Quantum Flagship coordination and support action project. Her role is to manage the community of about 400 members who are creating education and outreach content and activities for Quantum Technologies. Additionally, she chairs a Working Group on Equity and Inclusion of the Quantum Technology Education Community (QTEdu) and is a member of the working group Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Quantum Technologies. She is also passionate about science communication and organized outreach events for example Italian Quantum Week 2022.