MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS News) - Middle Tennessee State University is inviting Blue Raider alumni to take a closer look at a topic that sounds like it belongs in a Star Wars script but is quickly becoming part of everyday life. The university will host a lunchtime webinar on Wednesday, January 14, at noon CST, offering a plain‑English walkthrough of what experts are calling the “Quantum Shift” — a major turning point in how the world will compute, communicate, and solve problems in the decades ahead.

The online session, held through Microsoft Teams, aims to help alumni understand what quantum technology actually is, why it matters, and how it will shape everything from national security to health care to the devices we use at home. For many people, the phrase “quantum research” feels mysterious or even intimidating, but MTSU hopes to change that by breaking it down in a friendly, accessible way.

At the center of this work is MTSU’s Quantum Research Interdisciplinary Science and Education Center, better known as QRISE. Led by physicist Dr. Hanna Terletska, the center brings together researchers from physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, and engineering. Their projects range from quantum materials and photonics to AI‑powered simulations and next‑generation sensors. It’s cutting‑edge work supported by major partners including the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and several regional industries.

So what exactly is this “Quantum Shift” everyone keeps talking about? Scientists describe it as the move from today’s classical technologies to tomorrow’s quantum‑powered ones — machines that operate using the strange rules of the subatomic world, where particles can exist in multiple states at once and even influence each other across distance. This shift is expected to transform fields like finance, energy, advanced manufacturing, and artificial intelligence. And Middle Tennessee, thanks to QRISE, is positioning itself right in the middle of that future.

For students and the broader community, the impact is already taking shape. QRISE is creating hands‑on research opportunities, opening doors to national labs like ORNL, and preparing a workforce ready for high‑demand quantum careers. What once sounded like science fiction is quickly becoming a real‑world advantage for Murfreesboro and the region.

CLICK HERE to register for the webinar or for more information.