Women in Quantum Development
WIQD (pronounced “wicked”) stands for Women in Quantum Development. We are a professional network in the Netherlands working in industry, academia and policy that envisions a quantum sector inclusive of women and nonbinary people. Our aim is to connect and retain gender minorities in quantum through support, networking, and community growth.
Currently, there is a marked lack of gender diversity in the quantum sector. With few or no women* working in this space, it is difficult for women to imagine themselves in a long-term career in quantum. Our aim is therefore to connect and retain women and other gender minorities who have or want to pursue a career working or studying in the field of quantum technologies. Although some of our programs are only open to women and other gender minorities to create a safe space, everyone is welcome to join our events and become involved in the WIQD community.
*By ‘women’ we refer to both women and other gender minorities, binary and non-binary. We interpret gender minorities in as broad as possible terms, to mean anyone who feels that their gender identity makes them a minority in the field of quantum.
News and Announcements
A network of women in quantum
We started WIQD to address a simple problem: there are not very many women and gender minorities 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.
Every month we organise an online Inspiring Talk from the WIQD World with a keynote speaker that could be a role model for our community. Also, we have in-person quarterly events such as workshops, network events, new year drinks, and more. And our yearly flagship event WIQD’s annual symposium, which you do not want to miss. It’s a day full of networking, diversity, inclusion, quantum and getting inspired by the community. If you want to join our online WIQD community please e-mail contact@wiqd.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:
- Julia Cramer (co-chair; Leiden University)
- Stacey Jeffery (co-chair; CWI & QuSoft)
- Lisa Kohl (CWI)
- Ingrid Romijn (QuTech & Q*Bird)
- Arghavan Safavi-Naini (University of Amsterdam)
- Romana Schirhagl (University of Groningen)
- Evert van Niewenburg (Leiden University)
- Robert Baker (Potentia Talent Consulting)
The WIQD organizing committee consists of:
- Judith Kreukels (Chair & Project Coordinator; UvA)
- Yvonne Smit (Coordinator Communication & Impact; freelance (previously QuSoft))
- Mathilde Lemang (Secretary; QphoX)
- Garazi Muguruza (QuSoft / UvA)
- Caiseal Beardow (TU Delft)
- Alicja Dutkiewicz (Leiden University)
- Miriam Lucio (Maastricht University)
- Rima Schüssler (QuSoft/UvA)
- Taryn Stefanski (TU Delft)
- Sayr Motz (Student Assistant, TU Delft)
