Summer School in Stockholm Gathers Nobel Laureates to Celebrate 100 Years of Quantum Science
"Since last year we arranged a successful Winter School in Sanya, Southern China, and my research project has received fundings until 2030, says Frank Wilczek. This year’s event, coinciding with UNESCO’s global celebration of 100 years of quantum physics, brought together graduate students, postdocs, and some of the most distinguished minds in science — including several Nobel Laureates.
Among the featured speakers were David Gross, Duncan Haldane, Giorgio Parisi, Frank Wilczek, and Gerard ’t Hooft, who shared insights from the cutting edge of both theoretical and experimental physics. Organized for the 15th time, the Summer School focused on a broad range of topics in quantum matter, quantum information, particle physics, and the fundamental structure of reality.
“This year’s event created a wealth of new collaborations and ideas,” said Frank Wilczek. “It’s a unique chance for young researchers and renowned scientists to interact in a relaxed setting and inspire each other.”
Frank Wilczek: Leading the Quantum Frontier
One of the central figures in the Summer School is Professor Frank Wilczek, Nobel Laureate in Physics (2004), awarded for the discovery of asymptotic freedom and the development of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Since 2016, Wilczek has been active at the Department of Physics at Stockholm University and is also affiliated with Nordita, the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Wilczek is also leading a research group called Quantum Frontiers, which explores groundbreaking ideas such as detecting axions, manipulating anyons, probing time crystals, engineering long-range quantum forces, and detecting elusive particles like gravitons — possibly using new concepts like supercold resonance boxes, as suggested by Igor Pikovski. Other focus areas include machine learning, quantum computing, spacetime structure, and even time-reversal phenomena in biology.
Looking ahead, Wilczek’s research group is funded through 2030, and he is expected to publish a new book later this year, exploring “what we know and what’s possible” — a fitting theme for a scientist who continues to push the boundaries of what’s imaginable.
Nordita Researcher and Nobel Laureate Win First Prize for Essay on Quantum Gravity
Professor Wilczek and Sreenath Manikandan were jointly awarded first prize for their essay “Probing Quantum Structure in Gravitational Radiation”. The paper proposes a novel approach to determine whether gravitational waves follow classical physics or show signs of quantum behavior — a question at the heart of unifying gravity and quantum mechanics.
“It means a lot to me to be recognized jointly with Professor Wilczek,” said Manikandan. “It’s inspiring and timely for my career.” Wilczek added, “We’re asking experimentalists to take on tough challenges, but the reward is the chance to uncover something profoundly new.”
The First Quantum Connections Winter School
In January 6-17 2025 the first Quantum Connections Winter School was arranged in Sanya Conifer Resort in southern China. The event gathered 150 in-person participants and over 20,000 online, with 13 world-leading lecturers — including Nobel Laureates — aiming to spark new directions in quantum science. Another Winter School is already in planning for next year.
A Global Collaboration
"We look forward to arranging the Summer School next year as it has been such a success this year and the years before. It created a lot of new collaborations and ideas for continued quantum research, said Frank Wilczek."
The Summer School is organized jointly by the Department of Physics at Stockholm University and Nordita, hosted in collaboration with KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Uppsala University, TD Lee Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the Wilczek Quantum Center at the University of Science and Technology of China.
More information
Quantum Connections Summer School in Sweden 2025
The First Quantum Connections Winter School 2025 - in Sanya, China
Probing Quantum Structure in Gravitational Radiation
Nordita Researcher and Nobel Laureate Win First Prize for Essay on Quantum Gravity
Nordita - The Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics
Frank Wilczek - Stockholm University
Frank Wilczek - Nobel Prize 2004
Frank's curiosity has earned him the Nobel Prize and several fruitful collaborations - News article Fysikum, The Physics Department, Stockholm University
Quantum Frontiers - Frank Wilczek's research group
Last updated: June 25, 2025
Source: Gunilla Häggström, Communications Officer, Fysikum