South-Carolina
IonQ And South Carolina Quantum Launch Faculty & Researcher Quantum Learning Series
Insider Brief
- IonQ announced the launch of its new Faculty & Researcher Learning Series in partnership with South Carolina Quantum (SCQ).
- The Learning Series, which will initially launch at Clemson University, is part of an agreement between IonQ and SCQ to accelerate the introduction of quantum technologies in academia and business across South Carolina.
- Members can partner with SCQ to gain access to IonQ’s quantum systems as they familiarize themselves with the technology, begin exploring research opportunities and design coursework around quantum computing.
PRESS RELEASE — IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a leader in the quantum computing industry, today announced the launch of its new Faculty & Researcher Learning Series in partnership with South Carolina Quantum (SCQ). The Learning Series is the first event following the March agreement between IonQ and SCQ to accelerate the introduction of quantum technologies in academia and business across South Carolina. Learning Series’ members can partner with SCQ to gain access to IonQ’s quantum systems as they familiarize themselves with the technology and begin exploring research opportunities and designing coursework around quantum computing.
“The State of South Carolina is taking meaningful strides in training its quantum workforce of the future, and we are pleased to bring IonQ’s leading edge quantum computing expertise to these initial Learning Sessions,” said Peter Chapman, President and CEO of IonQ. “The coursework and curriculum developed as a result will prove invaluable for other universities worldwide as they ramp up their quantum programs and turn to SCQ and Clemson University for guidance. We look forward to having IonQ become the trusted quantum hardware platform for these institutions.”
In 2023, the State of South Carolina set aside millions in funding for SCQ to accelerate workforce development, economic development, and applied research in quantum computing. One component of this venture was the creation of quantum-specific academic coursework for training future members of the quantum economy. The Learning Series is designed to support faculty and researchers who have an interest in quantum computing by providing them with free, expert-led training covering topics like:
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Quantum 101 and best practices for incorporating quantum computing into coursework and research;
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industry insights on quantum applications;
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technical presentations and demonstrations; and
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guidance on accessing quantum resources and funding opportunities.
“We are very excited to kick-off our Faculty Learning Series with Clemson University as their reputation for preparing and leading students to success is unmatched,” said Joe Queenan, Executive Director, South Carolina Quantum. “IonQ brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this initiative and will set the conditions for faculty to understand the importance of bringing quantum into the classroom and creating a learning environment that sparks innovation and creativity for University students. This collaboration with IonQ and Clemson is the first step to a pathway for education in developing a quantum-smart workforce, inspiring entrepreneurship that will help attract, and settle, quantum talent and technology to South Carolina.”
Clemson University will host the first Learning Session on June 11, 2024. The workshop, titled, “An Introduction to Quantum Computing and Applications,” will provide Clemson faculty and researchers with an orientation on quantum technology. Scientists from IonQ will lead the session and expand faculty members’ knowledge about accessing quantum resources, developing applications, and integrating quantum computing into academic coursework.
“We are excited to host SCQ’s inaugural Faculty & Researcher Learning Series,” said Dan Noneaker, Associate Dean for Research in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences at Clemson University. “Quantum computing will have a transformative effect on research, industry, and the world. Partnering with South Carolina Quantum and IonQ will help our faculty and researchers learn about this emerging technology and ensure Clemson University and the State of South Carolina are at the cutting edge.”
For more information on SCQ’s Faculty Learning Series, please visit www.scquantum.org. To learn more about IonQ’s latest system news and business developments, visit https://ionq.com/.
(WPDE) — A social media post from U.S. Rep. William Timmons is drawing attention to a South Carolina election-law scenario that could shape whether some members of Congress decide to run for Sen. Lindsey Graham’s open U.S. Senate seat.
Under the timeline outlined, a sitting member of Congress could win reelection to the U.S. House and also win the open U.S. Senate seat on Election Day, Nov. 3. Because a person cannot serve in both offices, the lawmaker would have to choose.
If the member chose the Senate seat, the change would take effect when the new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3. At that point, the person would leave their House seat to serve in the Senate.
Unlike a U.S. Senate vacancy, a U.S. House seat cannot be filled by appointment. Instead, a special election would be required to choose a new representative. Until that special election is held, the House seat would remain vacant.
Timmons said the temporary vacancy could matter because the House elects its speaker when the new Congress begins on Jan. 3. With Republicans expected to hold a narrow majority, Timmons argues that even one temporary vacancy could make it more difficult for Speaker Mike Johnson to secure enough votes to keep the speaker’s gavel.
The next step in the process comes Tuesday, when candidate filing for the special Republican primary opens. Filing closes July 28.
Observers will be watching whether the issue affects who files for the race and whether any lawmakers propose changes to the election process.
Less than 72 hours after the sudden passing of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, his sister was sworn in to finish his term.
Darlene Graham Nordone took the oath on Tuesday, saying it’s what her brother would have wanted.
Having served in the Senate for almost two and a half decades, Senator Graham was well-liked by his Republican colleagues, generally well-respected by Democrats, and well-known across the country.
Taking the oath on the Senate floor, Darlene Graham Nordone, the younger sister of Lindsey Graham, officially became his successor. A ceremonial swearing-in followed in the old Senate chamber.
Senator James Lankford (R-OK) prayed for Graham’s family Monday as he remembered his friend.
“He’s a person that loved his body, loved the country, and loved the people of South Carolina. And it showed,” said Lankford.
Senator Alan Armstrong (R-OK), who went through a similar selection and swearing-in process just a few months ago, told Bloomberg TV he had come to respect Graham during their brief overlap.
“People knew him for somebody that would speak his mind and was clear and convincing in his argument,” said Armstrong.
As a strong backer of Ukraine, one of Graham’s final acts was to get White House backing for a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill.
Greenville County budget passes with key funding shifts
Greenville approves $473M budget with $44.6M going to public safety, $27.5M to roads, $3.5M for Greenlink while cutting affordable housing to $1M.
South Carolina has been operating under a temporary spending measure for the past two weeks after a small committee of House and Senate members has yet to finalize the budget.
After another day of stalled discussions, Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, said lawmakers have three options to keep the government funded. One of those options is operating under a continuing resolution, a temporary funding measure that keeps state agency funding the same as the previous financial year, until next year.
The General Assembly’s budget conference committee, a six-member group — three each from the House and Senate — met for a brief budget discussion on July 14. The committee decided quickly to adjourn until 2 p.m. on July 15 after failing to make progress on a spending plan.
Conference committee members are struggling to come to an agreement on property tax relief and earmarks, which are budget allocations set aside for specific projects. The committee most recently met on June 30, the day before fiscal year 2027 was set to start, and decided to push its next meeting out two weeks to give staff the time to collect information on the main differences between the Senate and House budgets.
The committee reconvened on July 14, facing the same challenges as it did during the meeting in late June. Though the legislature has not finalized a budget for fiscal year 2027, state agencies are being funded at last year’s levels due to a continuing resolution.
However, the state will not be able to allocate funds for state employee raises and teacher salary bumps if lawmakers don’t pass a new budget.
“It’s important for the people of South Carolina to remember that government is open,” Davis said. “This is not a situation like in Washington, D.C. where state government is shutting down.”
Davis told his fellow committee members that he thinks they have three options: keep operating under a continuing resolution for the next year, pass a budget without property tax cuts or earmarks, or decide which earmarks can be removed to include some measure of property tax relief.
“Mr. Chairman, I think those are the three options in front of us right now,” Davis said.
House Ways and Means Committee Chair Rep. Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville, said he thinks the state can have a budget and that relying on a continuing resolution is an “absolute failure of this conference committee to do their job.”
“In the next couple of days, we’re obviously going to be working hard,” Bannister said. “I’d like to do that in good faith.”
According to Davis, the House budget includes about $315 million in earmarks while the Senate version has about $130 million. He added that the Senate has $240 million in its budget for a property tax cut, which the House does not have.
The senator from Beaufort also said that there are rules in place that restrict how the conference committee can negotiate. He said for many of the earmarks, the committee either has to approve all funding for a specific project or no funding. The House also had not passed a property tax bill, limiting the committee to using a budget proviso to pass the funding.
“It becomes difficult for the House to agree to a property tax cut via proviso,” Davis said. “The rules constrain them in that regard.”
The conference committee will resume budget discussions on July 15 at 2 p.m. Davis said he hopes the committee can come to an agreement by the end of the week. The budget would still need approval from the House, Senate and governor before it is final.
Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@gannett.com.
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