Physics Olympiad concludes with experiment tests

"We believe that some outstanding contestants will conquer the examination."

Lin Ming-juey, professor

Grading of the experimental portion of the of the 34th International Physics Olympiad was held yesterday in Taipei and professors will grant awards for the entire competition on Saturday.

National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) physics professor Lin Ming-juey (林明瑞) said that the students performed splendidly after quizzing them in the university laboratories yesterday.

Lin said yesterday that questions for the experimental examination were designed by eight physics professors, who spent two years on the task.

Many of the questions designed to test the top physics students from around the world are too difficult for ordinary physics majors, Lin said.

"We believe that some outstanding contestants will conquer the examination, and make the correct conclusions," said Lin, who is the main organizer for the examination.

He said that the experimental examination was prepared with the utmost confidentiality and it included purchasing and testing more than 100 instruments and pieces of apparatus. The organizer spent eight months adjusting instruments to be used in the examination.

It is Taiwan's first time as the host nation for the international competition, which was opened by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on Aug. 3.

On Monday, 239 high-school students from 54 countries participated in the theoretical examination. Questions were translated into the languages of the competitors a few hours before examinations were held.

Selected physicists from National Taiwan Normal University, National Taiwan University, National Chiao Tung University and National Tsing Hua University were in charge of designing the questions in both theoretical and experimental topics as well as reviewing examination papers.

In addition, the competition is bing boycotted by China, the top-ranked country in the competition. In the last 33 years, 52 gold medals were won by Chinese students. China is followed by Russia, India, Taiwan, the US, and South Korea in order.

Taiwan, ranked as the fourth best nation in the competition, and received 11 gold medals, 10 silver medals, 13 bronze medals and 8 honorary awards.

This year, five Taiwanese students are participating in the competition. They have been training at NTNU for three months.

According to the organizer, before the result was announced on Saturday, contestants will spend today visiting the north coast and other scenic spots.

In addition, contestants will have the opportunity to enjoy speeches given by world-class physicists, including Samuel C. C. Ting (丁肇中), who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1976, and superconductor expert Paul C. W. Chu (朱經武).

The university organized the competition with assistance from both the Ministry of Education and the National Science Council.