Q & A: Understanding Quantum Potential [Video]

Jad Abumrad, Distinguished Research Professor of Communication of Science and Technology and creator of Vanderbilt’s Quantum Potential series, talked to Vanderbilt Magazine about this groundbreaking project, described as a collection of wild but precise portraits of the scholars, scientists and students at Vanderbilt who are finding new ways to understand the world—and change it.

What sparked your idea for Quantum Potential, and how did the name come about?

The idea for Quantum Potential started when I joined the Vanderbilt community [in April 2022]. I had been working in radio and podcasts for two decades, including shows like Radiolab. When I came to campus, I was blown away by the caliber of individuals I encountered. They were not just smart; they had the potential to change the world. This led to the name “Quantum Potential,” symbolizing the infinite possibilities that each researcher at Vanderbilt holds. It’s like the quantum foam that some cosmologists …