​A world leader in quantum computing, IBM's Dr Heike Riel, will give a public lecture on the latest advances in the development of quantum computers at Stellenbosch University (SU) on Tuesday 3 September 2019.

Dr Riel will be in South Africa as a guest speaker at the fifth Quantum Africa 5 conference  taking place in Stellenbosch from 2 to 6 September. Since 2010, an international steering and programme committee has worked to bring the best of international quantum research to Africa.

Dr Hermann Uys, holder of a CSIR/SU research chair in Quantum, Optical and Atomic Physics in SU's Department of Physics, says Dr Riel is a world leader in nanoscale electronics: “Her visit is a fantastic opportunity for us to hear about the ground-breaking work in quantum computing being carried out at IBM."

The talk will take place from 18:30-20:00 in the General Engineering Building, Room A1001. RSVP by Friday 30 August at quantumafrica5@gmail.com

More about Dr Heike Riel

Dr Heike Riel is IBM Fellow and head of the science and technology department at IBM Research. She is responsible for leading its research agenda, with the aim of creating scientific and technological breakthroughs in the physics of Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing and technologies, nanoscience and nanotechnology, precision diagnostics and smart system integration.

Her research has contributed to advancements in OLED display technology, molecular electronics and semiconductor nanoscale materials and devices. Her recent research interests include topological states of compound semiconductor nanowires for quantum information processing.

Dr Riel studied physics at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany and received a PhD from the University of Bayreuth in 2003 for her work on optimizing multilayer organic light-emitting devices. In 2011 she graduated with an MBA from Henley Business School.