Nagle Lecture Series
2017 Nagle Lecture
Michele Mosca
CYBERSECURITY AND THE QUANTUM ERA
April 6, 2017
Description of the Talk
Quantum theory rewrote the rulebook for physics over a century ago. We have since moved from being curious spectators of the quantum realm to active participants, intricately choreographing quantum effects to achieve specific objectives. We harness quantum effects for precise measurement, more powerful computation, more secure communication, and many more applications yet to be discovered.
However, quantum computers will break some of the most important tools currently protecting cyberspace. Before reaping the benefits of full-scale quantum computation, we must retool with new cryptographic foundations for cybersecurity designed to be safe in the quantum era.
There are great challenges and opportunities as a growing global effort seeks to ensure that we have strong tools in place to protect our digital information and cyber systems in the quantum age.
Description of the Speaker
Michele Mosca is co-founder of the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, a Professor in the Department of Combinatorics & Optimization of the Faculty of Mathematics, and a founding member of Waterloo's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. He is the co-founder and Director of CryptoWorks21, an NSERC-funded training program in quantum-safe cryptography. He co-founded the ETSI-IQC workshop series in Quantum-Safe Cryptography which brings together a broad range of stakeholders working toward globally standardized quantum-safe cryptography. He co-founded evolutionQ Inc. in order to support organizations as they evolve their quantum-vulnerable systems and practices to quantum-safe ones.
He obtained his doctorate in Mathematics in 1999 from the University of Oxford on the topic of Quantum Computer Algorithms. His research interests include quantum computation and cryptographic tools that will be safe against quantum technologies. He is globally recognized for his drive to help academia, industry and government prepare our cyber systems to be safe in an era with quantum computers.
Dr. Mosca's work is published widely in top journals, and he co-authored the respected textbook “An Introduction to Quantum Computing” (OUP). Dr. Mosca has won numerous academic awards and honours, including 2010 Canada's Top 40 Under 40, the Premier's Research Excellence Award (2000–2005), Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) since 2010, Canada Research Chair in Quantum Computation (2002–2012), University Research Chair at the University of Waterloo (2012–present), and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013).
The Organizing Committee of the Nagle Lecture Series thanks the USF Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the College of Arts and Sciences for sponsoring this event.