Travis L. Scholten

Science and Power co-exist in an uneasy equilibrium.I seek to steady the situation and unlock a prosperous future serving the common good.

What interests me

Quantum Computing
Having worked in the field for over a decade now -- and witnessing firsthand the remarkable advances made by industry -- the feasibility of quantum computing is increasingly a question of "when", not "if".How do organizations, public and private, capitalize on this to drive technical, economic, and social impact?Read my work Assessing the Benefits and Risks of Quantum Computers.Science Policy
The past ~80 years of science policy in the US has been inspired by Dr. Vannevar Bush's 1945 tract Science, the Endless Frontier. The situation on the ground has changed dramatically since then.What is a 22nd-century-oriented vision for science policy?Governance Futurism
The US government is perhaps the most complex organization ever created. It could (has?) become a victim of its own success.How can that complexity be harnessed toward bold and innovative ends which promote true human dignity and flourishing, especially for families?

Opportunities for Collaboration

Committee ServiceI am happy to serve on temporary, ad-hoc committees focused on quantum technology and science policy.Recent Service:
* 2024 US Department of Energy Quantum Information Science Applications Roadmap
* 2024 CSIS Commission on US Quantum Leadership

MentorshipI am open to mentoring a few promising individuals in quantum computing and technology policy. Please reach out if you're interested, but note availability is highly limited.

Engaging in Public DiscourseI am passionate about sharing my knowledge and experiences, and am keen to speak at conferences, participate in panel discussions, and otherwise contribute informing the public and stakeholders.

Biography

Dr. Travis L. Scholten works as the Technical Lead for Public Sector at IBM Quantum. He focuses on large, strategic activities with government entities to identify opportunities for leveraging quantum computers and advances in quantum computational science to drive technical, economic, and social impact. In prior roles at IBM Quantum, Travis developed and led research collaborations with startups and enterprises on topics related to quantum benchmarking and applications.Travis sits on the Board of Directors of the Unitary Fund, a non-profit working to create a quantum technology ecosystem that benefits the most people, and he is the creator of The Quantum Stack, a Substack on quantum computing.Previously, Travis was a Policy Hacker Fellow with the Foundation for American Innovation, a non-profit whose mission is to develop technology, talent, and ideas that support a better, freer, and more abundant future. Prior to joining IBM Quantum, he received a PhD in Physics from the University of New Mexico, and a BS degree in Physics from the California Institute of Technology.