From Understanding to Resonance: A Case Study of Quantum Music and Embodied Science Communication

Abstract

One challenge in science communication is how to engage audiences with highly abstract scientific fields often perceived as distant, technical, or inaccessible. This Practice Insight examines two initiatives implemented during the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology: Quantum Fest in Japan and Quantum100 in Germany, which together attracted more than 4000 participants. Both employed immersive artistic experiences, including music, visual art, and embodied participation to create alternative entry points into quantum physics. Drawing on post-event surveys, participant comments, and stakeholder interviews, this paper identifies three dimensions of resonance: sensory immersion and reduced psychological barriers, collective embodied meaning-making, and emerging transformative engagement. The findings suggest that resonance-driven approaches can complement explanation-centred science communication by enabling audiences to form meaningful relationships with science before, alongside, or beyond conceptual understanding.