Prof. Tao Han, Pittsburgh

2025 marks 100 years since the birth of quantum mechanics — a scientific revolution that reshaped our understanding of nature at its most fundamental level. We will trace its origins from pioneering work of Heisenberg, Schrödinger, and Dirac to its modern formulation in quantum field theory — the language of particle physics and the Standard Model, and the transformative technologies powering the modern world, from semiconductors and lasers to quantum computing. Alongside the historical journey, we will explore key concepts in quantum mechanics and quantum fields, the philosophical questions they pose, and how ongoing research continues to push the boundaries of what we know.