Weekly outline

  • General

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    Course: Wednesdays 14h15 - 16h00 

    Room INM 11

    We explore the intersection of quantum technologies and sustainability. Topics: 1) GESDA and open quantum institute initiative on UN Sustainable Goal Developments; 2) Fundamental aspects of thermodynamics of computation; 3) Analysis and benchmarks of energy consumption in current and near term real quantum devices and discussion of classical computing challenges; 4) Projects on use cases through personal student work.

    The course will also feature guest lectures and some may be announced during the semester.

    Students will choose to work in small teams on projects related to potential applications of quantum technologies or quantum enabling technologies to sustainability challenges.

    EPFL lecturers: nicolas.macris@epfl.ch , adrian.ionescu@epfl.ch

    Guest lecturers 2026 edition:  audrey.himmer@cern.ch, philipp.kammerlander@cern.ch , alex bernasconi, philippe.caroff@epfl.ch, marieke.hood@gesda.global

    Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator www.gesda.global and Open Quantum Institute CERN

    Other guest: TBA

    Final assessment: based on participation in class, project work, and presentation at the end of semester.

    Projects Instructions :

    i) Form teams of 2 or 3 per project (to be updated).

    ii) During the last two weeks you will be presenting your projects to the rest of the class and handover your slides. Each presentation will last approx 30 minutes and discussed with the whole class. Presence in these two last sessions is mandatory.

    iii) The project can be any topic of your choice related to the themes of the class (discussed or not discussed in class). Below is a list of suggestions to help you out, but you may have other ideas.

    iv) We are available during course hours on Wednesdays 14h15 – 16h if you want to discuss your progress. However you should first make an appointment with us a few days before.


  • Useful references and links

    GESDA

    Open Quantum Institute CERN

    Quantum Energy Initiative

    An interesting perspective on Moore and Koomey laws

  • 18 February

    1) Nicolas Macris: Introduction and topics covered this semester. 


  • 25 February

    Guest lect. Philipp Kammerlander, Alex Bernasconi (OQI), Marieke Hood (GESDA, TBC)

    Presentation of GESDA & OQI, goals and activities

    SGD use cases

  • 4 March

    Guest lect.  Philipp Kammerlander and Alex Bernasconi (OQI)  

    SDG use cases

  • 11 March

    Self-study of SDG's and already think about project/subject. This also the school trip day: no formal class.

  • 18 March

    Guest lect.  Audrey HimmerOQI) and Philippe Caroff (EPFL)

     Quantum Diplomacy Game! All should participate! Reserve 3 hours: 15h15 - 17h (TBC)

  • 25 March

    Lecture: Nicolas Macris

    Overview of very classic material in thermodynamics of computation.

    1) Maxwell demon, Szilard engines, Landauer principle, reversible & irreversible computation.

    2) Deeper dive into Landauer's principle.

  • 1 April

    Lect. Nicolas Macris

    Cost of quantum computation over the whole classical to quantum stack. (based on recent literature)

  • 8 April Easter break no class

  • 15 April

    Lect. Adrian Ionescu

    1) Cloud and energy challenges in AI data centers (cloud computing)

    2) Edge AI and IoT (edge computing)

  • 22 April

    Lect. Adrian Ionescu

    1) Energy harvesting and storage; from material to system architecture challenges

    2) TBC: Discussion possible topics for projects (A.I and N.M).

    @Student: form teams and choose your projects no later than this week.

  • 29 April

    Project work

  • 6 May

    Project work

  • 13 May

    Project work

  • 20 May: project presentations

    Teams present their project: 14h15 sharp - 16h00

  • 27 May

    Teams present their project: 14h15 sharp - 16h00