THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT ANOTHER BIG COMPANY BETTING BIG ON QUANTUM COMPUTER RESEARCH IN COLLEGE PARK.

IS THIS THE NEXT BIG THING?

WE WILL FIND OUT.

BUT WE BEGIN TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.

JOINING US IS KENA KUWERA, A RECOVERY NAVIGATOR AT THE CENTER FOR INJURY PREVENTION AND POLICY AT THE SHOCK TRAUMA CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT SHOCK TRAUMA?

>> I'VE BEEN THERE FOR EIGHT YEARS I WAS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST WORKING IN THE I TKH-FPLT U AND NOW AN INJURY PREVENTION COORDINATOR AND FALL NAVIGATOR.

>> Jeff: PEOPLE MAY THINK SHOCK TRAUMA IS ALL PEOPLE INJURED IN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND CAR CRASHES AND OTHER TYPES OF VIOLENCE.

YOU SEE A LOT OF ORTHOPAEDIC CASES.

>> FALLS IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE AT 42%.

WE SEE ALL SORTS OF INJURIES RELATED TO FALSE.

THEY CAN BE VERY MILD TO VERY SEVERE.

SOME PATIENTS GET TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES OR CONCUSSIONS.

SOME GET HIP FRACTURES, SPINE FRACTURES, AND SOME HAVE A MIXTURE OF THOSE.

>> Jeff: YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SURE IF THEY FALL DOWN THEY WILL BOUNCE BACK UP.

NOT ALWAYS THE CASE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET OLDER.

>> YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S INCREASED RISK FACTORS AS WE AGE, SUCH AS THERE MIGHT BE MEDICAL CONDITIONS WE MIGHT BE TAKING MORE MEDICATIONS HAVING FOUR OR MORE MEDICATIONS CAN CAUSE YOU INCREASE TO RISK OF FALLS.

WE MAY HAVE DECREASED APPETITE AND SINCE OF THRIFT WHICH CAN LEAD TO POOR CALCIUM INTAKE AND THAT DID INCREASE YOUR RISK FOR FRACTURES AND DEHYDRATION NOT GETTING ENOUGH FLUIDS CAN BE CAUSE FOR HAVING A FALL.

>> Jeff: I IMAGINE OLDER PEOPLE HAVE SEEN OTHER OLDER FOLKS HAVE SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES AFTER A FALL.

SO ARE WELL AWARE OF THE RISK MAYBE NOT AS AWARE OF HOW TO LOWER THEIR PERSONAL RISK.

>> YEAH.

UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE HEAR STORIES AND THINK ONCE I HAVE A FALL THAT'S IT I WILL END UP IN A NURSING HOME AND STAY FOREVER.

THIS IS WHY WE DO THE WORK FALLING IS NOT A NORMAL PART OF AGING THAT IT IS PREVENTIBLE AND THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO INCREASE YOUR NUTRITION.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE TALKING TO YOUR DOCTORS AND PHARMACIST TO UNDERSTAND YOUR MEDICATIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS THAT COME ALONG WITH THAT.

AS WELL AS MAKING SURE YOU ARE EXERCISING KEEPING YOUR STRENGTH AND BALANCE.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED THE NUMBER OF MEDICATIONS CAN PLAY A ROLE?

>> WE NEED MEDICATIONS TO TREAT DIFFERENT CONDITIONS IF YOU TAKING A BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION THAT CAN MAKE YOU FEEL DIZZY THE MORE MEDICATIONS YOU HAVE, THE MORE SIDE EFFECTS YOU WILL HAVE THAT CAN CAUSE INCREASE YOUR RISK OF FALLS.

>> Jeff: THE PREVENTION SIDE OF YOUR WORK, YOU OFFER FREE CLASSES.

WHAT DO THEY CONSIST OF?

>> IT TALKS ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HELPS IDENTIFY FALL RISKS NUTRITION, VISION ISSUES YOU MAY HAVE THINGS IN YOUR HOME THAT CAN BE HELPED SUCH AS REMOVING THROW RUGS.

EVEN SIMPLE THINGS LIKE PUTTING THE THINGS YOU USE EVERYDAY IN THE KITCHEN ON THE COUNTER OR NEARBY SO YOU ARE NOT GETTING ON TO A CHAIR THAT CAN LADY TO FALLS.

MAKING SURE YOU HAVE ALL THE MEDICATIONS YOUR EYE WEAR, PROPER SHOES EVEN.

OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WEAR SLIPPERS BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO GET NON-OUT OF.

HAVING PROPER SHOES CAN SUPPORT YOUR FOOT AND PREVENT FALLS FROM HAPPENING.

>> Jeff: I'VE READ LIGHTING IS IMPORTANT.

MAYBE NOT THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF IF SOMEBODY'S VISION IS STILL 100% BEING ABLE TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND IT HAPPENS AT NIGHTTIME.

WE SEE PATIENTS THAT GET UP AT NIGHTTIME AND WE RECOMMEND THEY HAVE MOTION CENSORED NIGHT LIGHTS OR A FLASHLIGHT SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> THE PREVENTION WORK THAT YOU DO INCLUDES FREE CLASSES VIRTUAL OR YOU WILL GO TO A COMMUNITY GROUP.

>> WE HOLD A CLASS EVERY MONTH AT SHOCK TRAUMA IN PERSON AND WE DO OFFER A LIVE STREAM PEOPLE CAN LOG IN.

TO THEIR WEB BROWSER BY TYPING IN UMMS.COM/FALLS CLASS.

EVERY SECOND BEND OF THE MONTH AT 5:30 PM.

>> Jeff: AND PART OF THAT IS DEMONSTRATING EXERCISES WHICH IS THE REASON WE HAVE THE NICE CHAIRS IN THE STUDIO TODAY.

DO YOU WANT TO SHOW US BUN OR TWO THINGS.

>> YES, MAYBE YOU ARE WATCHING A FOOTBALL GAME WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU HAVE ARM RESTS IS STAND UP ALL THE WAY AND SIT DOWN.

AND YOU CAN REPEAT THIS A COUPLE TIMES.

EVENTUALLY AS YOU GET STRONGER YOU MAYBE ABLE TO HAVE YOUR HANDS ON YOUR THIGHS OR BE ABLE TO LIFT YOUR ARMS UP AND COME DOWN.

THIS IS A MOTION WE DO EVERYDAY AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO STRENGTHEN YOUR LEGS.

>> HOW MANY REPS?

>> A COUPLE.

DURING COMMERCIAL BREAKS WHILE YOU ARE WATCHING A SHOW IS AN EASY WAY TO WORK IN THIS EXERCISE.

>> Jeff: THAT IS GREAT TIMING.

EXCEPT WE ARE ON PUBLIC TELEVISION IF THERE WERE A COMMERCIAL BREAK LET'S STAND UP AND DO THE CHAIR DEMO.

>> THESE ARE THINGS YOU CAN BUILD INTO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE.

LET'S SAY YOU ARE IN THE KITCHEN AND COOKING WHAT YOU CAN DO IS HAVE YOUR HAND ON THE COUNTER.

IF SOMEONE IS TALLER, MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT LEANING OVER.

JUST FOR YOUR BALANCE, KEEP ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER LIKE THIS.

AS YOU IMPROVED BALANCE CAN YOU TAKE YOUR HANDS AWAY AND SEE IF YOU ARE FEELING SHAKEY YOU CAN HOLD ON FOR SUPPORT.

AND SWITCH THE FOOT PLACEMENT.

ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE LIFTING YOUR LEG UP AND STANDING ON ONE LEG.

ONCE YOU FEEL STRONG ENOUGH AND YOU HAVE THAT CONTROL TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF AND HOLD THIS FOR 10-30 SECONDS DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR LEVEL.

ANOTHER OPTION HIP STRENGTH LIFTING YOUR KNEES UP AND DOWN LIKE MARCHING IN PLACE AND YOUR BACK IS NICE AND STRAIGHT THAT WAY YOU ARE NOT BENDING FORWARD AND USING OTHER MUSCLES.

ALSO YOU CAN BRING YOUR LEGS OUT TO THE SIDE.

NICE AND SLOW.

YOU WILL FEEL THAT ON THE SIDE OF YOUR HIP.

YOU CAN BRING YOUR LEG BACKWARDS.

AND THEN YOU SHOULD FEEL THAT IN THE BACK OF YOUR HIP.

AND ALL MUSCLES WE USE FOR EVERYDAY MOVEMENTS IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> Jeff: AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIND A CHAIR WITHOUT WHEELS ON IT.

0 SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE DOING THE EXERCISES IT IS A STURDY CHAIR.

>> A KITCHEN COUNTER OR A COUCH THAT IS LARGE AND HIGH ENOUGH.

THAT WAY IT'S NOT MOVING.

>> Jeff: ANYTHING ELSE TO DEMONSTRATE WITH THE CHAIR?

>> THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS YOU CAN DO DEPENDING ON YOUR ACTIVITY LEVEL.

YOU CAN COME UP ON TO YOUR TOES THAT IS AN EASY WAY TO STRENGTHEN THE BACK OF YOUR LEGS.

COME UP WITH YOUR FEET ON TOP.

OFTENTIMES AS WE GET OLDER OUR JOINTS START GETTING STIFF.

IT HELPS WITH MOVING OUR ANKLES AND YOUR KNEES ALL OF THOSE BODY PARTS.

>> Jeff: LET'S GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THE CHAIR AND HAVE A SEAT.

IN RESEARCHING THIS, ONE THING THAT KEPT POPPING UP I LOOKED AT DIFFERENT WEBSITES WAS TAI CHI.

SOMETHING YOU ADVOCATE?

>> YEAH.

SO A LOT OF THE AREA AGENCIES ON AGING THROUGHOUT MARYLAND ALL OF THE SENIOR CENTERS HAVE TAI CHI THAT THEY OFFER AND IT IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM SO THEY'VE STUDIED IT AND FOUND IT CAN REDUCE FALLS UP TO 30%.

>> Jeff: I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.

IT'S NOT YOGA.

>> IT'S NOT.

IT'S SLOW MOVEMENTS SOME CAN BE DONE WHILE SEATED IF SOMEONE IS FEARFUL OF FALLING IT IS A NICE, SAFE WAY FOR THEM TO MOVE AND GET THAT EXERCISE IN.

ALSO IT IS A NICE COMMUNITY ASPECT YOU CAN MAKE FRIENDS AND SOCIALIZE WHICH IS HELPFUL FOR THOSE AS WE GET OLDER.

AND OFTENTIMES A LOT OF ISOLATION BECAUSE OF FEAR OF FALLING IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT ASPECT.

>> Jeff: LET'S HOPE NOBODY FALLS.

IF SOMEBODY DOES FALL AND YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO HELP WITH FIRST AID WHAT DO YOU DO?

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHETHER THIS IS SOMETHING THE PERSON WILL BE ABLE TO BOUNCE BACK UP AND WE NEED TO CALL FOR HELP?

>> WE COVER THAT IN OUR CLASS.

WE ACTUALLY TELL PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THEY STAY CALM, TAKE REST BREAKS AND ASSESS THE SITUATION.

THEY TRY MOVING THEIR ARMS AND LEGS IF THEY FEEL THEY ARE HAVING PAIN TO CALL FOR HELP AND WAIT.

OFTENTIMES WHAT WE HAVE IS FAMILY MEMBERS OR LOVED ONES TRYING TO HELP THAT PERSON GET UP AND THEY INJURY THEMSELVES.

WE TELL PATIENTS TO WAIT AND GET COMFORTABLE UNTIL EMS CAN GIVE YOU SUPPORT.

>> SHOULD IT BE PART OF A ROUTINE CHECKUP?

I'M THINKING ABOUT THE MEDICATIONS AND THEY HAVE MAYBE FINE BUT THEY MAY CAUSE A PROBLEM.

>> SPEAK UP AND ASK QUESTIONS TO YOUR PROVIDERS.

OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WILL HAVE DIFFERENT DOCTORS THEY ARE SEEING AND TALKING TO YOUR PHARMACIST GOING TO THE WINDOW AND HAVING THAT CONSULT TAGS TIME TO UNDERSTAND.

SOMETIMES THERE'S FOOD YOU SHOULD NOT BE EATING WITH CERTAIN MEDICATIONS IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE TAKING AND IF YOU NEED TO TAKE IT, HOW LONG YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT IF YOU MISS A DOSE THOSE THINGS MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR BODY AND HEALTH.

>> Jeff: YOU BROUGHT UP FOOTWEAR, PEOPLE WITH SLIPPERS IS UNDERSTANDABLE.

BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FOOT HEALTH AND BALANCE AND HAVING THE RIGHT SHOES?

>> YEAH IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF YOU HAVE CERTAIN AILMENTS LIKE DIABETES, OR OTHER NEUROLOGICAL ISSUES, YOU CAN LOSE YOUR SENSATION ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR FEET IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD FOOTWEAR AND THAT SENSATION YOU CAN HAVE INCREASED RISK OF FALLS.

CHECK THE BOTTOM OF SHOES FOR WEAR-AND-TEAR AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE GRIP YOU NEED ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS BAD.

>> Jeff: THE PEOPLE WHO WINDUP IN SHOCK TRAUMA AFTER A FALL, DO THEY TEND TO HAVE BONE HEALTH ISSUES THINKING ABOUT OSTEOPOROSIS THINGS THAT CAN BE CHECKED IN ADVANCE?

>> OFTENTIMES THAT IS WHY WE DO THE CLASS.

THESE THINGS ARE PREVENTIBLE MAKING SURE YOU ARE HAVING THAT NUTRITION GETTING YOUR CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D, ASKING FOR A SCREEN IF YOUR DOCTOR IS NOT DOING THAT.

THERE'S RESEARCH THAT IS SUGGESTING THAT WOMEN SPECIFICALLY SHOULD BE OVER 65 SHOULD BE GETTING OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENED.

>> Jeff: AND TELL ME ABOUT THE FALL PREVENTION NAVIGATOR PART OF THE JOB OR FALL RECOVERY NAVIGATOR.

TRYING TO PREVENT IT.

IF IT HAPPENS, WHERE DO YOU STEP IN?

>> WE STARTED A PROGRAM WHERE I GO AND IDENTIFY AND TALK TO PATIENTS THAT HAVE HAD A FALL AND WE KIND OF GO THROUGH AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY NEED.

SO WHETHER IT'S LIKE A HOME MODIFICATION OR A GRAB BAR IN THE BATH TUB OR A RAMP PLACED WE CAN CONNECT THEM WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT PLACED AS WELL AS PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP PHONE CALLS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE GETTING EVERYTHING THEY NEED.

>> Jeff: KENA KUWERA OF THE SHOCK TRAUMA CENTER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: APPRECIATE IT.

AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: NOW, MICROSOFT IS OPENING A QUANTUM RESEARCH CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND'S DISCOVERY DISTRICT, QUANTUM PROMISES A JUMP IN COMPUTER SPEEDS IS AND CAPABILITIES BUT HOW CLOSE IS IT REALLY?

WE SPOKE WITH THE HEAD OF PHYSICS DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, STEVE ROLSTON.

>> WHY IS EVERYONE EXCITED ABOUT QUANTUM COMPUTING?

IT HAS POTENTIALS FOR DOING NEW THINGS IN A FASTER WAY THAN WE COULD DO IN THE PAST.

THE REAL EXCITEMENT STARTED ACTUALLY 30 YEARS AGO NOW WHEN A MATHEMATICIAN NAMED PETER SHORE PROVED MATHEMATICALLY THAT YOU CAN SOLVE A MATH PROBLEM THAT'S THE BASIS OF ALL OF OUR ENCRYPTION.

AND SO YOU CAN IMAGINE VARIOUS THREE LETTER AGENCIES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAME INTERESTED IN THIS.

BECAUSE IF YOU CAN BREAK ENCRYPTION, YOU CAN READ OTHER PEOPLE'S SECRETS AND ALSO FROM THE U.S.

PERSPECTIVE YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOUR SECRETS ARE SAFE AS WELL.

>> Jeff: AND IF THE OTHER SIDE, WHOEVER IT IS, GETS THIS FIRST, YOU WILL HAVE A SPUTNIK MOMENT TIMES WHATEVER?

>> EXACTLY.

AND PRESUMABLY, THE OTHER SIDE AND OUR SIDE HAS ACCUMULATED TERROR BITES OF ENCRYPTED DATA THAT WE CANNOT READ GOING BACK DECADES THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO READ.

IT'S NOT ONLY INTERCEPTING CURRENT COMMUNICATIONS BUT IT'S ALSO PROTECTING SECRETS FROM 30 YEARS AGO AS YOU ARE AWARE THERE ARE A LOT OF SECRETS PEOPLE LIKE TO PROTECT EVEN DECADES OLD.

>> Jeff: WELL, TELL US THE PHYSICS, YOU RUN THE PHYSICS DEPARTMENT IF IT'S POSSIBLE IN LAYMAN'S TERMS HOW WOULD A QUANTUM COMPUTER DIFFER FROM THE CHIP ARCHITECTURE THAT WE ARE ALL A LITTLE BIT FAMILIAR WITH?

>> SO IT WOULD LOOK DIFFERENTLY.

SO THE BASIC UNDERLYING IDEAS WHY FIGURED OUT ACTUALLY WHEN THE FOUNDERS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS IN THE 1920s SORTED IT ALL OUT.

AND QUANTUM MECHANICS DESCRIBES THE MICROSCOPIC WORLD, DESCRIBES EVERYTHING ABOUT WHAT WE DO.

FOR HOST THINGS IT'S SOMEWHAT IRRELEVANT BECAUSE ONCE YOU HAVE REALLY LARGE THINGS LIKE US, WHAT WE CALL CLASSICAL SYSTEMS, YOU DON'T REALLY SEE TEASE PROPERTIES.

BUT THEY ARE UNDERLYING EVERYTHING AND WE'VE COME TO REALIZE IN THE LAST FEW DECADES WE HAVE NOW EXQUISITE CONTROL OVER INDIVIDUAL AT TOMORROWS THAT WE CAN REALLY FROM THE FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE SIDE UNDERSTAND THINGS ABOUT A SINGLE ATOM AND HOW QUANTUM MECHANICS DESCRIBES IT.

WHAT SHORE REALIZED IS THERE IS A DIFFERENT SET OF RULES AND IF YOU CAN CONTROL THINGS AND USE THOSE RULES, YOU CAN DO CALCULATIONS ESSENTIALLY MUCH FASTER THAN WE CAN DO WITH YOUR TYPICAL COMPUTER.

EVEN YOUR SUPER COMPUTER OF TODAY.

>> Jeff: THERE IS A TERM I'VE SEEN CALLED ENTANGLE.

WHICH SOUNDS TO A LAYMAN COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE.

MAKE IT MAKE SENSE?

>> OKAY.

SO ACTUALLY ENTANGLE MEANT IS QUITE SPECIAL BUT YOU ARE ACTUALLY KIND OF USED TO WHAT I WOULD CALL CLASSICAL ENTANGLEMENT AND IT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE AND I'M TEACHING MY STUDENTS.

IMAGINE I HAD A RED BALL AND A BLUE BALL AND I PUT THEM IN THE BOX.

YOU DON'T SEE IT.

I SEND YOU OFF TO CALIFORNIA.

WITH A BALL IN A BOX.

AND I KEEP ONE BALL AND AS SOON AS I OPEN MY BOX AND SEE THAT IT WAS A RED BALL YOU KNOW YOURS IS A BLUE BALL.

THERE'S NO FASTER THAN LIGHT COMMUNICATION OR ANYTHING THERE.

BUT YOU INSTANTANEOUSLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT COLOR BALL I HAD.

SO IN A WAY THAT IS CLASSICAL ENTANGLEMENT SO NOTHING SPECIAL.

QUANTUM MECHANICALLY THERE'S EXTRA RULES ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS TWO QUANTUM THINGS LIKE TWO ATOMS, TWO STATES OF LIGHT COULD BE EVENING TANGLED IN A WAY IF I MEASURE ONE OF THEM I LEARN THE PROPERTIES OF ANOTHER.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO IN THIS SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUANTUM AND CLASSICAL.

BUT THE KEY IS ENTANGLEMENT GIVES US A NEW SET OF KNOBS TO WORK ON AND THAT IS THE POWER BEHIND THE QUANTUM COMPUTER THE NEW SET OF RULES, NEW SET OF KNOBS MAKES THEM POTENTIALLY MORE POWERFUL.

>> Jeff: HOW IS THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND LEADING IN THIS FIELD?

>> SO WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST QUANTUM CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY.

SO IT REALLY STARTED WITH THE JOINT QUANTUM INSTITUTE THAT WE FOUNDED IN 2006 AND THIS IS JOINT BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND THE INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY IN GAITHERS BERG THIS IS A MARRED ACTIVITY.

AND OVER THE YEARS WE'VE ADDED A NUMBER OF OTHER QUANTUM INSTITUTES.

SPANNING COMPUTER SCIENCE AND LOOKING MORE AT TECHNOLOGY AND NOW WE HAVE A START-UP FOUNDRY TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE QUANTUM START UP COMPANIES TO LOCATE IN MARYLAND.

WE ADD UP THE NUMBER OF RESEARCHERS HERE, GRADUATE STUDENTS, POST DOCS, RESEARCH SCIENTISTS IT'S AROUND 200.

SO IT IS A VERY LARGE ACTIVITY.

SPANNING ALL KINDS OF QUANTUM FROM QUANTUM COMPUTING TO NETWORKS TO SENSING TO A VARIETY OF AREAS.

>> Jeff: THE LATEST BIG ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MICROSOFT.

>> CORRECT.

SO THE UNIVERSITY HAS WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE DISCOVERY DISTRICT WHICH IS RIGHT BY THE COLLEGE PARK METRO STATION ACROSS FROM CAMPUS, BASICALLY.

SO THIS IS -- THERE IS AN EFFORT NOW THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT LAST YEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR THAT WE'RE STIMULATING THE CAPITAL OF QUANTUM AND A LOT OF THAT WILL BE FOCUSED IN THE DISCOVERY DISTRICT.

MICROSOFT JUST ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY AT THE QUANTUM WORLD CONGRESS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOCATING A RESEARCH CENTER IN THE DISCOVERY DISTRICT.

THE INVOLVERY DISTRICT ALREADY HAS QUANTUM ACTIVITIES SO THE HOPE IS THAT IT CONTINUES TO EXPAND WITH START UP COMPANIES, WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER LARGER COMPANIES AS WELL AS VARIOUS FEDERAL PARTNERS.

>> Jeff: DARPA, THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAVE BEEN ROLLING OUT ANNOUNCEMENTS ONE AFTER THE OTHER.

A DARPA PROGRAM CALLED QUANTUM BENCHMARKING INITIATIVE AND IT IS DARPA WANTS TO TEST PEOPLE'S CLAIMS OF THEIR QUANTUM COMPUTERS SO IT'S PUT UP OR SHUT UP.

THEY HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO LOCATE AT LEAST SOME FRACTION OF THE SO-CALLED QBI IN THE DISCOVERY DISTRICT.

>> Jeff: TELL ME ABOUT THE FIELD FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF YOUR STUDENTS.

SAY YOU HAVE A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND WITH INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES, THINK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RIGHT NOW, THE SALARIES THAT ARE OUT THERE WAITING FOR THEM.

AND THEN THE PROMISES OF QUANTUM.

WHAT ARE THEY MOST FOCUSED ON?

>> SO PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF OUR STRENGTHS IN QUANTUM BUT MANY OF OUR STUDENTS COME IF AND WANT TO DO QUANTUM.

WE HAVE AN UNDERGRADUATE QUANTUM ASSOCIATION THAT GOT STARTED BY A FRESHMAN.

SHE ARRIVED IN THE PHYSICS DEPARTMENT AND SAID I WANT TO START A QUANTUM CLUB.

WE GET A THOUSAND APPLICATIONS TO OUR PH.D.

PROGRAM IN PHYSICS.

AND PROBABLY HALF OF THEM ARE INTERESTED IN DOING QUANTUM.

IT IS AN EXCITING TIME, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED WE WERE DOING FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE AND YOU GOT A DEGREE IN THIS AREA AND MAYBE YOU WENT OFF TO A NATIONAL LAB OR ACADEMICS NOW THERE IS A QUANTUM INDUSTRY.

AND MY STUDENTS ARE LEAVING AND GETTING JOBS AT START UP COMPANIES, AT MAJOR COMPANIES LIKE MICROSOFT, GOOGLE, ET CETERA.

SO IT IS AN EXCITING TIME.

AND PART OF OUR ROLE THAT WE SEE AT THE UNIVERSITY IS PROVIDING THE QUANTUM WORKFORCE.

THIS IS A NEW FIELD IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY.

SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO DO IT.

AND THERE IS A TON OF EXCITEMENT AROUND IT.

>> Jeff: YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LONG RUNNING JOKE ABOUT THE PROMISE OF UNLIMITED CLEAN ENERGY FROM NUCLEAR FUSION THAT IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS AWAY FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.

IN OTHER WORDS IT NEVER GETS HERE.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT QUANTUM TURNS OUT TO BE LIKE THAT?

>> IT IS.

TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST IT IS AN EXCEEDINGLY CHALLENGING PROBLEM.

WE'VE UNDERSTOOD THE RULES OF QUANTUM MECHANICS FROM THE 1920s.

BUT TURNING IT INTO TECHNOLOGY IS EXCEEDINGLY CHALLENGES AND SHORE'S ALGORITHM WAS 30 YEARS AGO.

WE'VE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS IN THE LAST DECADE.

BUT IT'S STILL HARD TO DO.

AND I WILL POINT OUT FUSION IS STILL IN THE SAME PLACE IT WAS WITH A NEW LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT NOW AROUND IT AS WELL.

WHETHER IT'S THE FINAL 20 YEARS OR NOT WE'LL SEE.

BUT THAT IS PART OF WHAT MAKES IT EXCITING, ESPECIALLY BEING AT A UNIVERSITY.

THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO FROM THE BASIC SCIENCE UP TO THE ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY.

AND IT'S PART OF WHAT MAKES IT ATTRACTIVE TO STUDENTS.

>> Jeff: IS IT THE SORT OF THING WHERE THE FIRST DEVICE WON'T BE ABLE TO CRACK THE CODE ON EVERYTHING THAT'S EVER BEEN ENCRYPTED BUT WILL BE A BIG LEAP FORWARD?

>> SO, WE HAVE SMALL SCALE DEVICES NOW THAT THEY CAN'T DO THINGS THAT I CAN'T CALCULATE ON MY LAPTOP BASICALLY.

AND TO BE HONEST, THE CRACKING THE ENCRYPTION IS THE HARDEST PROBLEM.

SO THAT'S NOT WHY MOST COMPANIES ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN IT.

THERE IS HE'S A HOPE THAT IT WILL BE ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT ON A WIDE RANGE OF PROBLEMS, ASSOCIATED GENERALLY WITH TRYING TO FIND THE BEST SOLUTION TO THINGS.

WHAT WE CALL OPTIMIZATION PROBLEMS AND OPTIMIZATION SHOWS UP EVERYWHERE FROM AMAZON FIGURING OUT WHAT IS THE SHORTEST ROUTE FOR THE DRIVERS TO TAKE TO WALL STREET TRYING TO OPTIMIZE WHAT THEIR PORTFOLIO IS DESIGNING NEW DRUGS, A RANGE OF AREAS.

AND ALL THOSE MAY OR MAY NOT PAN OUT.

WE DON'T KNOW.

IT'S INTERESTING.

IT'S LIKE WE'RE BUILDING THE AIRPLANE AS WE'RE TRYING TO THREE IT.

SO -- FLY IT.

IT'S ALSO VERY REWARDING IN THE SENSE THAT AS A PHYSICIST I END UP TALKING TO PHYSICISTS AND NOW YOU TALK TO COMPUTER SCIENTISTS AND MATHEMATICIANS SO IT IS A VERY BROAD CONTINUALLY EVOLVING COMMUNITY TO INTERACT WITH.

>> Jeff: EXCITING TIMES IN THE PHYSICS DEPARTMENT AT COLLEGE PARK.

DOCTOR WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> Jeff: REMEMBER YOU CAN SEE PAST EDITIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS AT VIDEO.MPT.TV.

AND ON THE FREE PBS APP.

YOU CAN FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT MPT NEWS.

NOW FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[*]