IE Sci-Tech Students Learn Quantum Computing to Meet Challenges
Renowned mathematician Eduardo Sáenz de Cabezón led the course.
As IE School of Science and Technology continues to expand students’ learning experiences beyond the classroom, the Bachelor of Applied Mathematics (BAM) invited renowned mathematician and professor Eduardo Sáenz de Cabezón to lead a two-session course on quantum computing and its potential to solve challenges that are difficult for conventional computers.
“Quantum computing is one of the most attractive and challenging emerging technologies of our century,” Sáenz de Cabezón said. “Being ready for it means knowing how it works, and this is an introductory hands-on course for beginners. Besides, quantum computing is a pretty cool computing paradigm!”
A total of 40 IE Sci-Tech students joined the course open to several bachelor degrees and explored the revolutionary potentials of quantum computing, as well as its differences from traditional computing. From bits and qubits to famous quantum algorithms, students strengthened their understanding of the field.
Irene Alda, Academic Director of the BAM emphasized the need to understand the foundations of different mathematical fields which underlie all technological innovations and develop students’ analytical skills to address real-life problems.
“Mathematics underlies every innovation and discovery, and this course on quantum computing showcases precisely why it's so crucial to have a strong foundation in Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, Calculus,” Alda highlighted. “This initiative shows our commitment to providing cutting-edge, extracurricular opportunities that expand our students' horizons beyond the traditional curriculum.”
Ana González, student in the BAM said the course put her mathematical knowledge into real life applications outside of what she learned in the classroom.
“I believe it was a fascinating course, something very different to what we are used to but that has provided us some insight about real applications of content that we have seen in class,” she said.
Other BAM students like Inés De Remedios also agreed.
“Exploring different areas where the mathematical concepts we have learned so far was, apart from gratifying, extremely intriguing,” she said. “It was great to see where we could apply our mathematical knowledge, especially in such a broad and complex field like Quantum Computing.”
Sáenz de Cabezón, professor at University of La Rioja, focuses his research on computer algebra – including a recent one using algorithms to enable biomedical image processing and ensure network reliability. He’s known for his YouTube channel Derivando, dedicated to learning mathematics in a fun and approachable way.
Last semester at IE University, Sáenz de Cabezón participated in a panel discussion with renowned mathematicians Marcus du Sautoy and Eva Gallardo on Mathematics in the Age of AI – stressing the importance of studying the field even with AI’s rise, and critiquing current teaching methodologies that fail to spark students’ interest in mathematics.