The most important quantum computing learning events for beginners and intermediates.
I missed some learning opportunities in my first few months into quantum computing, I wrote this post, to help you do better than me!
As a beginner myself, I am continuously searching for learning opportunities and for opportunities to connect with like-minded people. Outside academia, Quantum Computing is a relatively young technology. Tools and resources are continuously created to help a broader audience to get into the field.
There is a range of easily accessible offerings from various Quantum Computing providers and organizations. I personally found many tutorials and their respective problem statements very abstract, and difficult to relate to. So I looked out for more interactive learning formats.
Online hackathons (e.g. by IBM Quantum or by Pennylane) are ideal for hands-on learning of algorithms, frameworks and key-concepts. They are often very well curated, (apart from some bare basics) provide all the information needed to complete the challenges, but require you to study the provided materials closely. Furthermore, they might come with a message board, to connect with people in your area.
That being said, my personal experience with the hackathons was, that they are oftentimes announced at short notice, and it’s easy to miss out on them. However, you can join on the spot, no preparation strictly required (some basics of the target framework are highly recommended though).
More advanced people may look out to join a dedicated mentorship program, like the one by OQSF, or for offerings that require applicants to demonstrate a lot more work for the community, like the Qiskit Advocate program. These advanced programs need much more preparation and planning.
I attached a small overview of offerings I found, and when they took place in the past. Application deadlines to restricted offerings precede the event some time – so be careful with these.
I enjoyed doing hackathons a lot, and with this overview you too should be able to anticipate them. If you still miss one – don’t worry, the resources are usually published with some delay on github, so you can enjoy the contents out of competition. There’s always a next event around the corner, so keep at it!