At the end of 2024, the CAP IYQ Canada team invited all physics students in Canada to create a design for the Canada-wide celebration of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology and compete for the prize of $1000. We had a great turnout with 37 amazing creations submitted.
We are pleased to announce Jasmine Zhang as the winner of the CAP IYQ Design. Jasmine is a first-year PhD student at the University of British Columbia working with the T2K/Hyper-K group at TRIUMF.
Jasmine explains their design: “This design superimposes quantum science and the iconic Canadian maple leaf. The leaf is split into two halves, oriented oppositely to evoke the familiar orthonormal basis for the spin-1⁄2 particle (spin-up and spin-down). One half of the leaf is interwoven with circuit patterns, representing the technological advancements driven by quantum mechanics. The other half features a flowing waveform, symbolizing the natural phenomena and foundational principles of quantum mechanics. Together, these elements reflect the balance between innovation and the deeper understanding of the natural world fostered by quantum research.”
The IYQ Canada team is reviewing the other competition submissions to decide on several honourable mentions. Those additional designs will be used on specific Canadian IYQ merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, stickers, etc., or included in the special issue of Physics in Canada, or may be used in another form that will be celebrating IYQ2025.
Thank you to all participants for your excellent ideas!
The CAP IYQ 2025 team