Episode 20: A Quantum Journey of Education and Exploration

In this episode of The Quantum Spin by HKA, host Veronica Combs speaks with Cierra Choucair, a quantum journalist and analyst at The Quantum Insider. Cierra shares her unique journey from working in data science to becoming a self-taught expert in quantum computing. She discusses the motivations behind her switch to quantum journalism and the challenges of presenting complex scientific concepts to a broader audience. The episode also delves into her founding of The Daily Qubit newsletter and her insights from the Expanse event in Abu Dhabi. Listeners will gain valuable advice on breaking into the quantum field, the importance of interdisciplinary skills, and fostering a community within the quantum industry. 00:00 Welcome to The Quantum Spin 00:36 Meet Cierra Choucair: A Quantum Journalist 00:52 The Journey to The Quantum Insider 02:51 Highlighting Research in The Daily Qubit 05:27 Educational Background and Career Path 09:01 Expanse Conference Experience 14:00 Building Community in Quantum Industry 18:09 Future Trends in Quantum Computing 21:00 Advice for Aspiring Quantum Enthusiasts 22:15 Working with the Large Hadron Collider 25:41 Conclusion and Farewell Cierra Choucair is a deep tech journalist and data analyst for The Quantum Insider and a passionate advocate for deep tech. She has carved her own path in science and technology and believes that access to science and discovery is a fundamental right.  She created The Daily Qubit newsletter to highlight important research in quantum computing and to make this complex field more accessible to a wider audience. As the founder of Universum Labs, she is building a platform that uses emerging technologies to drive scientific discovery and innovation with open-access tools.  She was a finalist for the 2025 Quantum Innovation Summit’s Femtum Leap Quantum Rising Star award.She is an active member of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) and recently joined the advisory council for Girls in Quantum.  Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients as an account manager with HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 10 years. Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HKA Marketing Communications⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://hkamarcom.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠