Conference: HBCU-UP OPEN (CONFERENCE) QUANTUM LITERACY IN THE QUANTUM AI AGE: CLOSING THE HYPER-DISPARITIES GAP THROUGH DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

历史上的黑人学院和大学-本科生计划（HBCU-UP）为加强HBCUs的STEM本科教育和研究提供支持。量子科学和具有量子素养的劳动力是一个对国家至关重要的日益增长的领域。目前的劳动力无法满足行业为量子技术的出现做准备的需求，而来自历史上代表性不足的群体的个人占目前量子劳动力的比例不到1%。为了解决这些问题，摩根州立大学和国家量子素养网络旨在将HBCU，行业，国家实验室，政府机构和非营利组织聚集在一起，以提高对量子劳动力多样性，公平性和包容性的关键必要性的认识。会议以教育为重点，旨在探索新的和新兴的教学和学习工具和技术，以迅速发展一支具有一定文化水平的劳动力队伍，并解决历史上代表性不足的群体的巨大差距。该项目与HBCU-UP计划的目标一致，为HBCU本科生在新兴STEM领域创造机会。为期五天的混合会议旨在解决围绕量子科学意识和机会的目标，包括HBCU，其他少数民族服务机构（MSI）的至关重要性，以及少数民族商业企业在量子科学计划中的重要性，引入量子素养教育的严肃游戏倡议作为创新的教育战略，并突出有才华和多样化的本科生，包括ROTC学生和社区大学生。每日会议主题集中在教育，劳动力发展，公共政策，政府和行业旨在提供广泛的社会领域的覆盖面。该项目将包括形成性和总结性评价活动，其中包括讲习班前后的评估以及会议后六个月进行的调查。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) provides support to strengthen STEM undergraduate education and research at HBCUs. Quantum science and a quantum literate workforce is a growing field of critical importance for the nation. The current workforce is not meeting the needs of industry in preparing for the emergence of quantum technologies, while individuals from historically underrepresented groups constitute less than one percent of the current quantum workforce. To address these issues, Morgan State University and the National Quantum Literacy Network aim to bring together HBCUs, industry, national laboratories, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to provide awareness of the critical necessity of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the quantum workforce. With a focus on education, the conference aims to explore new and emerging teaching and learning tools and technologies to rapidly develop a quantum literate workforce and address the hyper-disparities of historically underrepresented groups. This project is aligned with the goals of the HBCU-UP program in building opportunities for HBCU undergraduate students in emerging STEM fields.The five-day hybrid conference seeks to address objectives centered around quantum science awareness and opportunities, the critical importance of including HBCUs, other minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and minority business enterprises in quantum science initiatives, introducing the Serious Gaming Initiatives for Quantum Literacy Education as an innovative educational strategy, and highlighting talented and diverse undergraduate students, including ROTC students and community college students. Daily conference themes focusing on Education, Workforce Development, Public Policy, Government, and Industry aim to provide broad coverage of societal arenas. The project will include formative and summative evaluation activities that include pre- and post-workshop assessments and surveys conducted six-months after the conference. Conference proceedings will be published, focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion in quantum literacy efforts.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.