In Fall 2025, I will take a course in quantum computing taught by Gilles Brassard, one of the world’s foremost pioneers in quantum information science. Recognized globally for his foundational contributions, Brassard co-invented quantum cryptography and quantum teleportation, and played a leading role in shaping quantum algorithm design and communication complexity.

He is widely regarded as a trailblazer in theoretical computer science, and his work has earned him some of the highest honors in physics and mathematics, including:

• The Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2023)

  
  

• The BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2019)

  
  

• The Wolf Prize in Physics (2018) – often considered second only to the Nobel

  
  

Brassard entered university at just 13 years old and went on to become a professor whose influence extends far beyond Canada — his research helped define the very language of quantum theory as applied to computing.

This course will cover the foundations of quantum mechanics from a computational perspective, including quantum states, entanglement, unitary evolution, and core quantum algorithms. For me, it represents not just an academic milestone, but the chance to learn directly from one of the architects of the quantum future.

One of the most profound implications of quantum computing lies in its ability to break classical encryption. Factoring the product of two large prime numbers — a task quantum algorithms like Shor’s could achieve exponentially faster than any classical method — would compromise the security of modern cryptographic systems. In effect, such a breakthrough could provide access to nearly all publicly encrypted data on the internet, reshaping the boundaries of privacy, governance, and digital infrastructure.