The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, the only international scientific union that covers all areas of physics, and UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, have partnered up to organize a new series of online interactive colloquia on Physics for Society.

IUPAP and UNESCO decided to begin with this initiative within the framework of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025), which is being celebrated in 2025, but plan to continue it in the following years. IYQ 2025, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in June 2024, highlights quantum science’s crucial role in technological advancements and addressing global challenges. In this light, the colloquia in 2025 the focus will be on Quantum Science and Technology and their relationship with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This also falls under the wider umbrella of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD 2024-2033).

This series of colloquia aims to bring together leading scientists, policymakers, and industry experts from around the world to establish a multidisciplinary and cross-regional collaboration platform. It seeks to explore the latest advancements in quantum science and technology, promote knowledge sharing and innovation, inspire collective wisdom across diverse fields, foster the integration of quantum science with other disciplines, and contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

This new session of the Physics for Society Colloquia will be held on June 16th at 13:00 CEST featuring a talk by Prof. Andrew Forbes from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Andrew Forbes is a Distinguished Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand where he leads a laboratory that focuses on Structured Light and its applications. He is active in promoting photonics in Africa, a founding member of the Photonics Initiative of South Africa and Director of South Africa’s Quantum Roadmap. He is a Fellow of SPIE, Optica, the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP), and an elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa. He has won several awards, including the national NSTF Photonics award (2015), the Alexander von Humboldt Georg Forster Prize and Fellowship (2020), the SAIP Gold Medal (2020), the Sang Soo Lee award from the Korean Optical Society and OPTICA (2022) and the Physics prize by TWAS (2024). In this opportunity Prof. Forbes will give a brief overview of his research on Quantum Structured Light and highlight the activities of South Africa’s Quantum Technology Initiative.

Synchrotrons are powerful tools at the intersection of quantum physics and real-world innovation, underpinning advances in areas from clean energy to nanotechnology and biomedical imaging. While Africa does not yet host a synchrotron facility, the establishment of such infrastructure would mark a transformative step toward strengthening the continent’s scientific and technological ecosystem. In the spirit of science diplomacy and under the umbrella of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD), this colloquium will highlight the vital role of synchrotrons in advancing research, supporting the development of quantum science ecosystems, and fostering regional and international collaboration. The webinar will highlight international collaborations such as SESAME in the Middle East, the advocacy efforts of the African Light Source Foundation, and the strategic role of science diplomacy in mobilizing support for African participation in global research infrastructures.

The series of online interactive colloquia on Physics for Society started with a keynote talk by Nobel Laureate Anne L’Huillier on April 14th, World Quantum Day. In this inspiring session, Prof. L’Huillier highlights the future of quantum science, the importance of education, and the role of physics in addressing global challenges. Moderator: Dr. Christine Darve, Dr. Amal Kasry, Prof. Silvina Ponce Dawson.