Quantum Poetry Contest for International Year of Quantum
Quantum Poetry
IYQ Poetry Contest entries are still open, therefore quantum-themed poets should apply.
The UN's UNESCO-designated International Year of Quantum (IYQ) welcomes poets worldwide to explore quantum research through poetry with the return of the Brilliant Quantum Poetry Competition. World Poetry Day is March 21, 2025, and this free contest runs until June 30, 2025.
UNESCO International Year of Quantum Science and Technology and quantum mechanics 100th anniversary in 2025 are commemorated. IYQ 2025 aims to inspire future quantum scientists, raise awareness, and support the quantum workforce through education and communication. The Brilliant Quantum Poetry Competition promotes innovative enquiry in quantum science, a “wellspring of inspiration for poets, artists, and thinkers alike” and a field for physicists.
The contest's originator, Edinburgh Napier University scientific poetry professor Sam Illingworth, is leading it. “The best quantum Poetry, like the best science, is about curiosity, observation, and making sense of the world in new ways,” Professor Illingworth beautifully says. In “Brilliant poetry,” authors can “explore science with both wonder and precision, creating work that resonates across disciplines.” Kylie Ahern founded The Brilliant, a global online science newspaper that blends art and science to connect the public to science. The publication fuels competition.
Quantum concerns are the competition's focus, however poets can be inspired by any scientific idea. This entails investigating superposition and quantum entanglement, which link particles over great distances. The famous Schrödinger's cat thought experiment, which determines a cat's life or death based on a quantum system, is also lyrical. These intricate and stunning subjects are “perfect for poetic exploration” say the organisers.
Photonics, a key quantum research topic, is intriguing this year. Poets should understand photons' quantum qualities, notably their particle-wave properties. Quantum-level light-matter interactions have advanced computing, communication, quantum encryption, imaging, and sensing technology. Photonics intrigues poets by bringing quantum notions to life in “vibrant, tangible ways.”
Free entry to the Brilliant Quantum Poetry Competition is open to authors worldwide. Each participant may submit one original poem written by humans without AI. Poetry must be 40 words in English, French, or Spanish and inspired by quantum subjects. First, second, and third place winners collect £1000, £500, and £250. These outstanding achievements will be highlighted in a live online reading event celebrating quantum science and technology's 100th anniversary.
Submissions are due June 30, 2025, not June 20. You must submit at TheBrilliantPoetry.com. After examining submissions from July to September 2025, the organising committee will select 30–40 poems. These ten great poems will be chosen by known judges in September and presented in October 2025. World Science Day for Peace and Development, November 10, 2025, will identify and celebrate winners.
Award-winning scientist, science communicator, and science and culture advocate Diego Golombek judges the tournament. With him, French physicist, author, and artist Jean-Pierre Luminet, PhD, studies black holes and cosmology. Kalinga Prise laureate and CNRS emeritus research director Luminet created the first computer-simulated black hole image and promotes science through quantum poetry, literature, and visual arts.
Brilliant quantum Poetry serves to simplify and fascinate scientific study, not only compete. Knowledge and discoveries are deepened to stress creative expression. The Brilliant uses art and science to tell breakthrough stories and promote scientific-public relations.
All poets can express themselves. This contest offers a unique opportunity to join a global celebration where “words meet wonder,” blending art and science to celebrate a groundbreaking topic and impress a global audience.
To conclude
International poetry contest hosted by The Brilliant Quantum Poetry and funded by UNESCO's International Year of Quantum (IYQ) is open until June 30, 2025. This competition encourages poets to explore quantum science in rhyme to simplify complex scientific issues. Participants can submit one original, human-written quantum poem of up to forty lines in English, French, or Spanish. Winners receive cash and international recognition. For quantum mechanics' 100th anniversary, the UN launched the 2025 IYQ to educate the public, motivate young scientists, and increase awareness. Competition judges are professionals in both domains and encourage art-science creativity.
