§8841 Quantum Information Science Research and Education Program

Summary

The Director of the National Science Foundation must run a basic research and education program on quantum information science and engineering. The program will give competitive grants to colleges and eligible nonprofit groups. It must support cross-discipline research and help train people for all parts of this field. The NSF must use its existing programs and work with other federal agencies to improve teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels and to increase who joins the field, including people named in sections 1885a and 1885b of title 42. The NSF must set goals, build on what is already known, coordinate research across its directorates, and work with other agencies, researchers, and potential users of the research. The NSF may create graduate traineeships for U.S. citizens in U.S. schools who study for master’s or doctoral degrees in quantum information science. The NSF must also try to add quantum information science and engineering (QISE) into STEM classes at all levels, including community colleges. Curriculum work can include ways to teach QISE in K–12, strengthen math and science basics, include underserved students, make age‑appropriate materials, recommend standard key ideas across government, schools, and industry, and use findings from the workforce study in subsection (d) of section 19261 of title 42. The NSF should coordinate with federal agencies and consult outside experts, which may include EPSCoR-eligible institutions. STEM includes computer science.