Discover how breakthroughs in materials and quantum science could shape our future, and explore the big questions they raise for society.

How will tomorrow’s technologies shape the society we live in – and who gets to decide?

Bringing science, society and fresh perspectives together

From the materials that could make our technologies more sustainable to the possibilities – and challenges – emerging from quantum advances, scientific innovation is opening up exciting opportunities. But it is also raising questions that cannot be answered by science alone.

Who should shape the way these technologies are developed and used? What are the implications for policy, law and ethics? How can we ensure that technological progress supports a more sustainable and equitable society? And what might these advances mean for how we understand and experience the world?

Join us for QAMSS Community Day 2026, an interdisciplinary event bringing together researchers, professionals and curious minds from across disciplines and beyond the University of Cambridge to explore these questions.

Whether your interests lie in science and technology, policy, law, business, the arts or humanities, this is an opportunity to step outside your usual field, hear fresh perspectives and take part in conversations about some of the most important questions facing society.

What to expect

The afternoon will feature a programme of invited talks, panel discussions and opportunities to exchange ideas and connect with others working across different fields.

We'll also be showcasing the impact of the QAMSS Microfunding Competition:

Meet last year's winners: Discover the interdisciplinary projects supported by the 2025 competition and hear from the people behind them.

Celebrate this year's award recipients: Find out which projects have won funding in the 2026 QAMSS Microfunding Competition, announced during the event.

Make new connections: Meet people with different expertise, interests and perspectives, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.

Who should attend?

The QAMSS Community Day is for anyone interested in the relationship between emerging technologies and society.

You might be a researcher exploring the possibilities of quantum technologies or advanced materials, someone working in science policy, law or business, a creative practitioner interested in the relationship between science and the arts, or simply someone curious about how technological advances could shape our collective future.

You don't need to be a specialist in quantum technologies or advanced materials to take part. In fact, bringing together people with different backgrounds and perspectives is exactly what the event is about.

About QAMSS

The Quantum and Advanced Materials Technologies for a Sustainable Society (QAMSS) Strategic Research Initiative brings together expertise from across the University of Cambridge, connecting engineering and physical sciences with fundamental and clinical sciences, social sciences, humanities and the arts.

Through interdisciplinary research, collaboration and knowledge exchange, QAMSS aims to advance quantum and advanced materials technologies while exploring their potential to contribute to a more sustainable society.

Join the conversation

The technologies shaping tomorrow's world are being developed today. The questions about how they should be used, who they should benefit and what kind of future they should help create belong to all of us.

Come along, share your perspective, discover new ideas and be part of the conversation.

Everyone is welcome – we look forward to seeing you there!

Description supplied by the event organiser.