Cybersecurity Education, Research & Outreach Center

Quantum Outreach

 

CEROC has been leading outreach efforts in cybersecurity that involve the GenCyber Camp, GenCyber on Wheels, the Golden Eagle Cyber Certificate (dual enrollment program in cybersecurity), etc. CEROC developed materials to integrate quantum-related activities in these programs to introduce quantum information science to K12 students. These activities involve a video game and a quantum key distribution platform, both developed by Dr. Ismail’s students, that are meant to provide hands-on activities to K12 students and attract them to pursue further studies in quantum information science.  

Quantum Key Distribution Testbed

The platform demonstrates Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), providing students with an interactive learning experience on how QKD operates. It is equipped with two LCD touch screens, allowing students to engage actively in the QKD process. The platform offers two operational modes: manual and automatic. In the manual mode, the student acting as Alice selects the initial bits to begin the process and chooses the encoding basis,  while Bob selects the measurement basis. In contrast, the automatic mode randomly generates the initial bits, encoding basis, and measurement basis. Alice utilizes a laser source to generate photons, complemented by a filter that polarizes the photons according to the state of each qubit. Bob employs a filter and detector to perform measurements based on a determined basis. Additionally, the platform features a set of stepper motors that adjust the orientation of the filters according to the selected basis. Programming is facilitated through Arduino components. This platform has been developed from scratch by students at Tennessee Tech University.

QUICK – Quantum Video Game

Dr. Ismail’s designed with his students a role-play video game (RPG), named QUICK, to introduce quantum information science (QIS) concepts to undergraduates and K-12 students. Our goal was not just to educate cybersecurity students on QIS concepts but to create something that sticks with them so they would want to come back to it. QUICK follows a sci-fi theme with emphasis on inventory management, circuit design, and puzzle solving. In QUICK, the player is an AI automaton on board an abandoned spaceship. As the game progresses, the player figures out what happened to the ship and how to make it reach its destination. In each level of the game, the player designs quantum circuits to open doors in the spaceship, communicate with other ships, etc. The game is being developed on Unreal Engine 5 and coded in C++. 

Tutorials, Workshops, and Editorials

To further promote quantum information science and its security applications within the community, Dr. Ismail organized numerous tutorials and workshops in quantum-related topics including IEEE Quantum Computing and Engineering Conference (QCE) 2024, Florida AI Research Society (FLAIRS) 2024 and 2025, Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) 2024, International Conference on Machine Learning and Applications (ICMLA) 2024, IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC) 2025, and International Conference on Computer Communications and Networks (ICCCN) 2025. He is Guest Editor for a Special Collection in Discover Networks (Springer Nature): Advances in Quantum Networks: Enabling Computing, Security, and AI Innovations.