In the lead up to National Science Week, Australia’s top scientists, including Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley and AIS Chief Science Officer Dr Paolo Menaspa, gathered at the AIS campus in Canberra to explore the benefits of quantum science in sport.

According to the CSIRO, quantum science ‘explains the behaviour of the world at the smallest scale’ and allows individual atoms to be isolated and controlled.

Dr Foley said quantum allowed previously unattainable properties to be used to advance technology across all industries.

“With quantum we can get down to the atomic level and manipulate properties so we can create enhanced technology like computers that are faster and can solve problems we couldn’t do before.”

With the infinite opportunities quantum technology provides, Dr Foley and Dr Menaspa expected all aspects of sports to be impacted.

“It is very difficult to predict where we will get the biggest return, but we believe we can use quantum for things like better measuring what happens in the body, muscles and brain in relation to concussion.” Dr Menaspa said.

“It will improve the way we track objects from a biomechanics point of view, or we can use quantum computing to help with performance analysis and the better use of data. The opportunities are endless.”

Dr Foley added: “Bringing science and sport together means Australia will have a performance advantage while the rest of the world tries to follow and catch up with our technology.”

As one of the world's leading sport and science nations, Dr Foley said Australians should be proud of the advances being made in both areas.

“Australia makes up 0.3% of the world's population, and yet when you look at our sporting and science achievements, we do about four and a half percent of the world's research. That's massive.”

Learn more about the research, innovation and technology taking place at the AIS.