COUNTRY FOCUS : SOUTH AFRICA ica : How African quantum community
population will be young and urban – ideal candidates , in Dwolatzky ’ s view , for the quantum workforce of the future . “ They all will be potential recruits into this new world of technology ,” Dwolatzky said , adding that : “ So I think we are planting seeds now where we will start to see huge numbers come through our universities ( to ) do quality work .”
From automated soap dispensers that fail to work for darker skin tones to algorithmic bias in the criminal justice system , the history of technology is filled with examples of how things can go wrong when there is a lack of diversity among the people who create that technology . We may not know yet exactly where and how quantum computing will prove its value , but there is one thing that is all but certain : Quantum computing will deliver the most benefit – and do the least harm – when it incorporates perspectives from the broadest possible community of developers .
That ’ s why contributions from community members on the African continent are crucial , and why Qiskit has spent years working to foster this community . Last year ’ s Qiskit Global Summer School saw 285 total participants across 26 different countries in Africa , and this year ’ s event saw 288 total participants across 30 different African countries . In 2019 , Qiskit hosted the Qiskit Camp Africa hackathon in South Africa , drawing participants from across the continent .
African participants in these events demonstrated not only the magnitude of their talent , but also the unique insight and creativity fostered by their experience as students , researchers and STEM professionals living
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