Learning through laughter at Quantum Carousel

Part of our International Year of Quantum Science and Technology coverage Hoping to bring together the quantum community in a fun and engaging way, Zulekha Samiullah set up a variety show for physicists in 2024 called Quantum Carousel. Now, a month on from the 2025 event, she and co-organizer Hugh Barrett look back on the night’s performances The fun of the fair Maria Violaris explains the fundamentals of quantum error correction using LEGO at Quantum Carousel in Bristol on 12 November 2025. (Courtesy: Matin Durrani) Quantum physics, kung-fu, LEGO and singing are probably not things you would normally put together. But that’s exactly what happened at this year’s Quantum Carousel. The event is a free variety show where incredible performers from across academia and industry converge for an evening of science communication. Held in Bristol, UK, on 14 November 2025, this was the second year the event was run – and once again it was entirely sold out. As organizers, our goal was to bring together those involved in quantum and adjacent fields for an evening of learning and laughter. Each act was only seven minutes long and audience participation was encouraged, with questions saved for the dinner and drinks intervals. All together now Speakers at Quantum Carousel 2025, which was organized by Zulekha Samiullah (second from right) and Hugh Barrett (far right). (Courtesy: Yolan Ankaine) The evening kicked off with a rousing speech and song from Chris Stewart, motivating the promotion of science communication and understanding. Felix Flicker related electron spin rotations to armlocks, with a terrific demonstration on volunteer Tony Short, while Michael Berry entertained us all with his eye-opening talk on how quantum physics has democratized music. PhD student double act Eesa Ali and Sebastien Bisdee then welcomed volunteers to the stage to see who could align a laser fastest. Maria Violaris expertly taught us the fundamentals of quantum error correction using LEGO. Mike Shubrook explained the quantum thermodynamics of beer through stand-up comedy. And finally, John Rarity and his assistant Hugh Barrett (event co-organizer and co-author of this article) rounded off the night by demonstrating the magic of entanglement. Our event sponsors introduced the food and drinks portions of the evening, with Antonia Seymour (chief executive of IOP Publishing) and Matin Durrani (editor-in-chief of Physics World) opening the dinner interval, while Josh Silverstone (founder and chief executive of Hartley Ultrafast) kickstarted the networking drinks reception. Singing praises Whether it was singing along to an acoustic guitar or rotating hands to emulate electron spin, everyone got involved, and feedback cited audience participation as a highlight. “The event ran very smoothly, it was lots of fun and a great chance to network in a relaxed atmosphere,” said one attendee. Another added: “The atmosphere was really fun, and it was a really nice event to get loads of the quantum community together in an enjoyable setting.” Appreciation of the atmosphere went both ways, with one speaker saying that their favourite part of the night was that “the audience was very inviting and easy to perform to”. Audience members also enjoyed developing a better understanding of the science that drives their industry. “I understood it and I don’t have any background in physics,” said one attendee. “I feel a marker of being a good scientist is being able to explain it in layperson’s terms.” Reaching out With the quantum community rapidly expanding, it needs people from a wide range of backgrounds such as computer science, engineering and business. Quantum Carousel was designed to strike a balance between high-level academic discussion and entertainment through entry-level talks, such as explaining error correction with props, or relating research to impact from stimulated emission to CDs. Read more Opening doors with outreach: using your physics skills to engage, inspire and break down barriers By focusing on real-world analogies, these talks can help newcomers to develop an intuitive and memorable understanding. Meanwhile, those already in the field can equip themselves with new ways of communicating elements of their research. We look forward to hosting Quantum Carousel again in the future. We want to make it bigger and better, with an even greater range of diverse acts. But if you’re interested in organizing a similar outreach event of your own, it helps to consider how you can create an environment that can best spark connections between both speakers and attendees. Consider your audience and how your event can attract different people for different reasons. In our case, this included the chance to network, engage with the performances, and enjoy the food and drink. Quantum Carousel was founded by Zulekha Samiullah in 2024, and she and Hugh Barrett now co-lead the event. Quantum Carousel 2025 was sponsored by the QE-CDT, IOP Publishing and Hartley Ultrafast. Want to read more? Registration is free, quick and easy Note: The verification e-mail to complete your account registration should arrive immediately. However, in some cases it takes longer. Don't forget to check your spam folder. If you haven't received the e-mail in 24 hours, please contact customerservices@ioppublishing.org. E-mail Address Register