TEHRAN –Holding the 54th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in Isfahan will boost the country’s science diplomacy, the chairman of the IPhO 2024 Organizing Committee has said. 

The 54th IPhO will be held in Isfahan University of Technology from July 21 to 29.

“The event will bring together more than 400 elite students and 250 physics professors from some 70 to 80 countries,” IRNA quoted Mahmoud Bahmanabadi as saying. So taking advantage of this opportunity is of utmost importance, he added.

Science diplomacy is one of the strategic policies of the country. Holding this competition will contribute to the development of science diplomacy since it serves as a platform to meet future physicists and promote constructive interaction in physics and other science and technology fields, Bahmanabadi noted.

In addition to the usual training, Iranian students attended two special programs, including a one-week training camp in Kish Island and the Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO) in Malaysia.

Rajdeep Singh Rawat, the president of the International Physics Olympiad, has traveled to Isfahan to visit the Isfahan University of Technology, the venue for the 54th IPhO 2024.

During this trip, he will assess the facilities for the exam, and evaluate the measures and plans taken to host the participants in the 54th Olympiad.

Considering the growing importance of physics in most fields of technology and the general education of youths, the annual competition is held every year in a country with the aim of increasing international communication.

The history of the IPhO dates back to 1967, when the first edition was held in Warsaw Poland with the participation of only five countries.

It has been 36 years since the Iranian team started participating in the competition and won many medals so far.

The Iranian team grabbed four silver medals and one bronze medal in the 53rd IPhO that was held in Japan in July 2023.

Iran has so far hosted four international Olympiads of physics (2007), astronomy (2009), computer (2017), and biology (2018).

APhO 2024

The Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO) originated from the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO).

APhO started in the year 2000 in Indonesia with about 10 participating countries, and in 2021, the participating countries grew to 26 countries.

It is an annual Physics competition for high school students from countries across Asia and Oceanic regions. 

Iran's Physics Olympiad team participated in the 24th Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The competition commenced on June 3 and concluded on June 10.

The team attended the competition for the first time to foster their scientific drive and improve their readiness for the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2024, which is scheduled to be hosted by Iran.

The participants were Pooya Asteraki, Farzin Qolivandan, Mohammad-Amin Haqju, Abolfazl Shiri, Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini, Kasra Sheikhi, Behrad Mohammadian, and Sara Mousaei.

Intl. Olympiad achievements

The outstanding achievements of Iranian students in international Olympiads have placed the country among the top five nations in the world.

“The educational system of other countries is excellent, yet Iran is among the top 5 countries in the world in the international Olympiads, YJC quoted Elham Yavari, the head of the National Organization for the Development of Brilliant Talents (SAMPAD), as saying.

Yavari pointed to a reform-based plan approved by Iran’s Ministry of Education in 2011 that defined a 20-year prospect for the elevation of educational standards and improvement of the educational system across the country.

Iranian schoolchildren ranked second and grabbed six gold medals in the Second Open World Astronomy Olympiad (OWAO).

The tournament was hosted by Russia at the Sirius Educational Center from November 14 to 22, 2023, IRNA reported. The participants attended the event both in person and remotely.

Iran grabbed one gold medal and three silver medals at the 35th International Olympiad in Informatics, ranking seventh in the world among 91 countries.

The IOI 2023 was held in Szeged, Hungary, from August 28th to September 4th.

The International Olympiad in Informatics is an annual international informatics competition for high school students from various invited countries, accompanied by social and cultural programs.

It is one of the several international science Olympiads held annually around the world. Exceptional high school students from various countries compete in the prestigious algorithmic competition to sharpen their informatics skills—such as problem analysis, design of algorithms and data structures, programming, and testing.

This year, the Iranian team took five medals, ranking third in the 16th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics held on August 10-20 in Chorzow, Poland.

IOAA is an annual event for students who perform very well academically around the world. Established in Thailand in the year 2006, it was an initiative by five countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, China, and Poland.

Also, Iranian students took six medals, ranking 11th at the 64th International Mathematical Olympiad which was held in Japan on July 2-13, 2023.

IMO is the World Championship Mathematics Competition for High School students and is held each year in a different country.

MT/MG