Quantum mechanics underpins many of society’s technologies, including lasers, atomic clocks, everyday computers. New second-generation quantum technologies seek to exploit quantum effects, such as superposition and entanglement, more directly, and include quantum computers, quantum sensors, and quantum communication systems. Yet the science underpinning these technologies can often feel abstract, complex, and opaque to the people who use or are affected by them. Furthermore, second-generation quantum technologies are at different stages of development, and their eventual capabilities, applications, and timescales remain uncertain.  

This theme explores how new interfaces—conceptual, regulatory, and experiential—can help bridge these gaps and ensure quantum technologies become societally meaningful and governable.   

This theme tackles two central challenges:  

1. Moving beyond one-way forms of communication: Public communication about quantum technologies has often focussed on explaining the underlying science and disseminating information. This theme explores how interfaces can support more meaningful and differentiated forms of engagement, through which diverse publics can develop an understanding of the potential uses, limitations, and implications ofconcrete quantum technologies. It also considers how such engagement can help people assess ambitious claims and distinguish realistic prospects from speculative hype. 

2. Navigating the societal transition to post‑quantum cryptography (PQC). PQC brings additional tensions, as changing interoperability requirements, gatekeepers’ contractual terms, and related policies intertwine to shape user experience, value trade‑offs, and control over security and privacy in communication services. This theme explores the challenges that arise between societal requirements, stakeholder interests, and regulatory frameworks, as well as the potential for productive collaboration and innovation between (quantum) science and society.