The Quantum Times
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TThhee QQuuaannttuumm TTiimmeess APS Topical Group on Quantum Information, Concepts, and Computation autumn 2007 Volume 2, Number 3 Science Without Borders: Quantum Information in Iran This year the first International Iran Conference on Quantum Information (IICQI) – see http://iicqi.sharif.ir/ – was held at Kish Island in Iran 7-10 September 2007. The conference was sponsored by Sharif University of Technology and its affiliate Kish University, which was the local host of the conference, the Institute for Studies in Theoretical Physics and Mathematics (IPM), Hi-Tech Industries Center, Center for International Collaboration, Kish Free Zone Organization (KFZO) and The Center of Excellence In Complex System and Condensed Matter (CSCM). The high level of support was instrumental in supporting numerous foreign participants (one-quarter of the 98 registrants) and also in keeping the costs down for Iranian participants, and having the conference held at Kish Island meant that people from around the world could come without visas. The low cost for Iranians was important in making the Inside… conference a success. In contrast to typical conferences in most …you’ll find statements from of the world, Iranian faculty members and students do not have the candidates running for various much if any grant funding for conferences and travel and posts within our topical group. I therefore paid all or most of their own costs from their own extend my thanks and appreciation personal money, which meant that a low-cost meeting was to the candidates, who were under essential to encourage a high level of participation. On the plus a time-crunch, and Charles Bennett side, the attendees were extraordinarily committed to learning, and the rest of the Nominating discussing, and presenting work far beyond what I am used to at Committee for arranging the slate typical conferences: many participants came to talks prepared of candidates and collecting their and knowledgeable about the speaker's work, and the poster statements for the newsletter. session was wonderful with many animated discussions and the This issue also headlines with overall quality of the poster presentation amongst the best I have an article by Barry Sanders ever seen. The conference had a busy schedule, so time to visit concerning his recent involvement the sites of Kish island and to enjoy diving or snorkeling in the in organizing a conference on coral-edged lagoons surrounding the island was limited, but the quantum information in Iran busy schedule was permeated by animated discussions about (which also recently played host to quantum information and potential collaborations. the International Physics The invited speakers at the conference comprised Bartlett Olympiad). It is a reminder that (Sydney), Cabello (Seville), Coecke (Oxford), Danos (CNRS regardless of political differences, France), Giovannetti (Pisa), Jafarizadeh (Tabriz), Kashefi we are all human. Historically (Oxford), Maccone (Pavia), Mancini (Camerino), Markham science (and particularly physics) (Tokyo), Nakahara (Kinki), Plenio (Imperial), Rudolph has been used as a way to reach (Imperial), Steinberg (Toronto), plus me. The invited speakers across barriers of all types plus numerous foreign contributors to the conference ensured (political, geographical, etc.). Thus broad representation from around the world, thus ensuring this we have included an excerpt from conference was genuinely international. The international flavor the famous Erice Statement by of the conference was greatly appreciated by the Iranian physicists Paul Dirac, Piotr participants, for whom this conference was a unique opportunity Kapitza, and Antonino Zichichi. In to meet and discuss quantum information with so many leaders light of this and the editorial I in the field. I expect that, as a consequence of this conference, wrote in the last issue, this quantum information research activity in Iran will increase, and statement is worth reading. the quality will continue to rise. In co-organizing this conference with my colleague Vahid -Ian T. Durham, Editor Karimipour of Sharif University of Technology, and his student Department of Physics Saint Anselm College (continued on next page) 1 and exemplary conference organizer Laleh organizational ability; between IPM, Sharif Memarzadeh Esfahani, I had numerous concerns University of Technology and its affiliate Kish expressed to me by colleagues, especially those University, and Calgary's Institute for Quantum few who turned down invitations. The concerns Information Science (specifically postdoctoral they voiced included the following: risk fellow Ali Rezakhani, who dedicated significant kidnapping by the authorities, repression of time and effort but unfortunately couldn't attend), women, terrorism, war with the United States, fear this conference went very well (aside from some of giving Iranians access to scientific knowhow unfortunate delays in baggage transfers in Dubai that could lead to advances in the nuclear program, for Kish-bound flights). limited local organizational ability, and low quality Finally the question about the quality of the of the conference. I will deal with these concerns in conference has been resoundingly answered in a a moment but first let me highlight one of the most positive way by the excellent science and scientists important achievements of IICQI 2007: the who participated in this conference. Of course conference was held successfully in Kish, followed there is room to boost the quality of the conference, by a tour of the mainland involving most of the and next year a few of us will organize a summer foreign participants, and everyone was warmly school in Iran for September 2008 to elevate the welcomed and treated with the greatest respect, the skills, knowledge, and understanding of quantum majority of participants were highly active female information for all interested Iranian faculty and students and faculty members, and the precedent of students. Next year's summer school will be this conference will ensure that future conferences especially beneficial in helping smaller universities are judged based on what Iran and Iranian science or universities that do not yet have a strong really are, rather than how Iran is portrayed by the foundation in quantum information to achieve media. state-of-the-art knowledge and comprehension. Let me respond to the above concerns. To The conference was followed by a tour of the begin, this conference is just one of many academic mainland, specifically a couple of days in Isfahan events that take place in Iran. Iran has a high level and a couple of days in Shiraz. Lorenzo Maccone of academic achievement, especially in theoretical took some beautiful pictures of the conference and physics, and excellent conferences to complement the tour afterwards, and his photographs can be these activities. Women and men participated as viewed at http://www.quantummechanics.it/- equals in the conference, including eating together, macca/iran/photos/index.html. Unfortunately the talking together, and laughing and joking together. pictures aren't labeled, but there are some beautiful Of course women have dress restrictions but so do shots of Persepolis and the nearby necropolis, men: for example, men have to wear clothes that Zoroastrian fire temples, and street life. I skipped cover the legs to below the knees. As for war, it part of the tour in Shiraz to go to the main Shiraz didn't happen, and we quantum information synagogue for Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year, scientists continue to hope that a war doesn't which coincided with the start of Ramadan) happen! Politics were distant from the conference. services. This experience was beyond description However, one amazing experience for me in Iran as I was apparently the first non-Iranian Jewish was the freedom to discuss politics and religion. person to visit their synagogue in years, and Even complete strangers would quickly espouse everyone there, it seemed, wanted to talk to me. I their feelings about politics, religion, and anything had dinner and lunch with a local family, and else, to each other and to foreigners. I had expected communicated in English with younger people and some censorship of discussion, or at least in Hebrew with older people. I could write for reluctance, but instead discovered a society that pages about that experience, but I won't: my point reveled in discussing anything and everything here is simply that Iran is a diverse society with without feeling that such discussions are taboo. many special peoples, and I had the freedom to As for concerns about leading information, wander off, talk to whom I wanted, and have my everything at the conference is either published in own personal experiences in Iran. After the open journal or will be. Regardless of the politics conference I was in Tehran for a few days as a between countries, scientific dialogue at this guest of IPM and had excellent physics discussions conference was about topics that are completely in and tours of facilities at IPM, Sharif, and Azad the open, and this epitomizes what makes science University (Science and Research Section). so great. Just like art, music, and sports, science is Whatever views we may hold about Iranian a glue that brings people together regardless of the society and politics, this conference opened up new politics that should be relegated to an orthogonal dialogues and new understanding on both scientific hyperplane. The concern about limited and non-scientific levels. The conference 2 culminated in nascent scientific ventures, embryonic collaborations, and most importantly Erice Statement new friendships. I am proud to have been able to Proposal two co-organize a conference that will serve as a foundation for future international quantum information summer schools and conferences All Governments should make every effort to located in Iran so that Iranians have ample, reduce or eliminate restrictions on the free flow affordable opportunities to learn the latest in of information, ideas, and people. Such quantum information, and we foreigners have the restrictions add to suspicion and animosity in opportunity to work with the Iranians and to learn the world.