Women in Quantum Development
WIQD (pronounced “wicked”) is a professional network for quantum technology enthusiasts from industry, academia and policy.
Our mission is to bring together women in quantum in the Netherlands, and beyond, for support, networking, and community growth.
A network of women in quantum
We started WIQD to address a simple problem: there are not very many women in the field of quantum computing. Unfortunately, we believe that this condition is somewhat self-sustaining.
With few or no women role models, it may be difficult for some women to imagine themselves in a long-term career in quantum computing.
On the flip side, a support network of women peers could have a positive impact on the retention of women in the field, but for many women from smaller groups, there are few opportunities to form such a network.
Organizing events
In order to achieve our mission, we plan to organize events multiple times per year. These events should be:
Useful: We’re all busy, so let’s take the opportunity to discuss science when we meet.
Interactive: There will always be a networking component to our events to foster new connections.
Inspiring: We will seek to organize events with people from different career stages, including as diverse as possible role models, with built-in opportunities to inspire one another.
Until it becomes safe to organize live events again, we are making the WIQD community virtual. Check out our Mentoring Program and Mentoring Program Kick-off Event, or email jeffery@cwi.nl to request to join our Slack Channel to participate in discussions with the WIQD community.
Committees – Who we are
The WIQD steering committee consists of (in alphabetical order by last name):
- Jaya Baloo (Avast)
- Julia Cramer (co-chair; Leiden University)
- Freeke Heijman (TU Delft)
- Stacey Jeffery (co-chair; CWI & QuSoft)
- Victor Land (QuSoft)
- Tanja Lange (TU/e)
- Karin Poels (Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties)
- Barbara Terhal (QuTech/EEMCS Dept TU Delft and FZ Juelich)
The WIQD organizing committee consists of (in alphabetical order by last name):
- Vandana Dwarka (TU Delft)
- Marieke Kootte (TU Delft)
- Aletta Meinsma (Leiden University/QuTech)
- Subhasree Patro (QuSoft/CWI)
- Floor van Riggelen (QuTech)
- Yvonne Smit (chair; QuSoft/UvA)
- Jana Sotáková (QuSoft/UvA)
