Quantum leap - the unlikely beginnings of a physicist

At the age of 12, Alicia Postuma—who uses the pronouns she/her and they/them—received a gift from her father that would chart the course of her life for decades to come: a book called How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog by Chad Orzel. This unconventional introduction to the world of protons, neutrons, atoms, and quarks captivated Postuma’s imagination and set her on a path toward a career in physics. Today, as a PhD candidate at the University of Regina, Postuma reflects on the profound impact this book had on their early interest in science.

"I was insufferable talking about that book as a kid," says Postuma. "This talking dog asks its owner all kinds of questions about his job as a physicist. The author then comes up with great metaphors to explain quantum physics. It turns out that if a talking dog can understand these complicated underpinnings of our world, so can a 12-year-old."

Read the full story in Discourse Magazine.