When it comes to research into quantum physics, Australia is up there with the very best, says Dr John Bartholomew, who earned his doctorate at the Australian National University, undertook scholarship studies at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and now heads the quantum laboratory at Sydney University.
Quantum physics offers vast opportunities for society and defence, including next generation of computers, communications and sensing.
This is research at the very cutting edge of knowledge, with Australia’s work highly regarded.
“I can guarantee that in quantum, the US is looking to Australia to partner with us and likewise us with them to really unlock what is going to be a game changer for both nations,” Bartholomew said.
Speaking at an event at Parliament House marking the Australia-US education collaboration and the American Australian Association (AAA) Northrop Grumman Corporation Graduate Education Scholarship program, he said his work at ANU showed he needed to study abroad, and Caltech was his preference.
“I tried many times though many avenues and the one that worked out was the AAA scholarship supported by Northrop Grumman,” he said.
He started in 2016 then spent another two and a half years there before heading to the University Sydney.
“Some of my undergraduate students will commence at Caltech in September. That connection continues, seeded by initial funding from organisations like the AAA,” he said.
The AAA-Northrop Grumman Corporation Graduate Education Scholarship program supports Australian students seeking to further the post-graduate studies at top US institutions such as Caltech, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard.
Students receive support of up to US$40,000 a year. Northrop Grumman has supported 11 scholars over the last decade.
Northrop Grumman Country Executive for Australia Rob Denney said sovereign capability began with talent.
“These scholarships are more than an investment in education. They are a strategic commitment to building sovereign capability in areas that are critical to our combined national interest,” he said.
“Quantum technologies, hypersonics, computational mechanics and supply chain resilience – they align with the objectives of AUKUS Pillar II and they are helping accelerate collaboration and innovation across borders. This is a story of long-term investment, strategic alignment and real-world impact. It’s about building the future one scholar at a time.”
Erika Olson, US Embassy charge d’affaires, said this program was creating life-changing opportunities for Australian students.
“These scholarships are an investment in education and an investment in the future of our joint innovative economies, the future of AUKUS and the critical technologies that underpin it,” she said.
“Machine learning, hypersonics, quantum technologies are not just buzzwords. They are building blocks for our future security and prosperity.
“This program is creating that pipeline of talent that will ensure our alliance stays at the forefront of technological innovation.”
AAA President Steven Marshall, former Premier of South Australia, said the organisation was founded by Sir Keith Murdoch in 1948 with the goal of strengthening US-Australia relations.
“Part of our mission is to remind the Americans just how important that alliance is. It is absolutely crucial at the moment. We have never been in such a contested geopolitical environment,” he said.
“We understand our position extremely well and one big part of that is how we develop a workforce to preserve that national security position.”
Marshal said there was a massive skills gap, with a short period of time to make that up.
“The American Australian Association, apart from many of the other things that we do, we support scholars from Australia to study in America and Americans to study over here. Since we put this program in place back in 2002, we now have in excess of 1,100 scholars that have moved between the two of us,” he said.
“At the moment we are larger than Fulbright and is something we are very proud about.”