January 19, 2005

Lab demonstration; news conference, Friday, January 21

All media are invited to a news conference on Friday, January 21 at 11:15 am to officially mark the launch of the University of Calgary’s new Institute for Quantum Information Science. The event will take place in the Husky Oil Great Hall of the Rozsa Centre. A separate lab demonstration will take place at 10:15 am in Room 003 of Science B.

Quantum information science is a rapidly growing area of research bridging quantum physics and computer science; only a handful of universities worldwide have institutes of this type. Speakers at Friday’s news conference include: Dr. Barry Sanders, Director of the Institute for Quantum Information Science, Dr. Harvey Weingarten, President of the University of Calgary, Dr. Randy Goebel, President and CEO of iCORE, and Mr. Greg Luoma, CTO of General Dynamics Canada.

Media will also have an opportunity to visit the laser optics laboratories of the Institute at 10:15 am, where Dr. Alex Lvovsky and his team are developing an exciting experimental project on applying photons (particles of light) for quantum information technology. B-roll of two computer animations illustrating quantum information experiments is also available.

WHAT:
A news conference and lab demo to launch the University of Calgary’s new Institute for Quantum Information Science.

WHEN:
Friday, January 21. Lab demo, 10:15 am; News Conference, 11:15 am.

WHERE:
Lab demo, Room 003, Science B (within northeast quadrant of campus);
News Conference, The Rozsa Centre (within southwest quadrant of campus).
For a map, see www.ucalgary.ca/map

Media in clearly marked company vehicles may park in any of the available pay lots on campus, but the MacEwan Student Centre Parkade, accessible from Collegiate Boulevard and 32nd Avenue NW, is roughly halfway between the two venues. Reporters in unmarked vehicles should phone in advance with a plate number to arrange for parking. For the lab demo, proceed from the parkade on the ground level through the Student Centre, past the Subway outlet, to Science B.

For more information, contact Greg Harris, Media Relations, (403) 220-3506, or cell, 540-7306.

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Gregory Harris
Media Relations
External Relations
Administration Building, A113
University of Calgary
2500 University Drive N.W.
T2N 1N4
Phone (403) 220-3506
Cell (403) 540-7306
Fax (403) 282-8413