The University of Valencia (UV) awarded the prizes of the local phase of the 36th Physics Olympiad on Thursday, 27th February. This international competition involves students from numerous countries and is organised at the national level by the Spanish Royal Society of Physics (RSEF). The local phase of the competition, which consisted of a written test with physics problems and exercises, was coordinated by the UV – through the Faculty of Physics and the University’s Delegation for Student Admission – along with the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV).
Carlos Calderón Alba (CE Mas Camarena, Paterna), Carlos Celada Esteve (CE Gençana, Godella), Miguel Monleón García (C. Escolapias, Valencia) and Andreu Sanchis Sánchez (Colegio Claret, Xàtiva) are the four students selected for the national phase. The two reserve candidates, who were also awarded prizes on Thursday, are Marc Senabre Sanz (IES Pou Clar, Ontinyent) and Jordi Guillem Mompó (IES Joan Fuster, Sueca). The prize-winners will now take part in a 12-hour experimental course in the laboratories of the Faculty of Physics.As a novelty, this year the national phase of the competition will be hosted by the Faculty of Physics at the University of Valencia from 11 to 14 April.
The awards ceremony took place at the Polytechnic University of Valencia. It was presided over by Rosa Mª Donat, vice-rector for Innovation and Knowledge Transfer at the UV, and Enric Valor, dean of the Faculty of Physics. Representing the Polytechnic University of Valencia was Alberto Conejero, vice-rector for Students and Entrepreneurship. Chantal Ferrer, professor of Applied Physics, acted as the representative of the Local Committee for the Physics Olympiad on behalf of the UV, while María Jesús Hernández, also a professor at the Faculty of Physics, and Juan C. Carrión served as committee members for Valencia.
The 24 high school students who participated in this Olympiad were preselected through a preliminary test held last October, which qualified them to attend a free 74-hour physics course taught by lecturers from the UV and UPV. After completing the course, they took the local Olympiad test to compete for the local prizes, which include, among other benefits, €1,000 if they enrol at the University of Valencia next academic year. Students who qualify in the national phase can also extend their participation to the Ibero-American Olympiad (this year scheduled to take place in Mexico) and the International Olympiad (to be held in Palaiseau, near Paris, France) in July.
More information: www.uv.es/fisica
Physics Olympiad Regulations: https://ir.uv.es/SKsmQ8O
Additional captions:
- Presidential table. From left to right: Chantal Ferrer, Juan C. Carrión, Alberto Conejero, Rosa María Donat and Enric Valor.
- Award ceremony for the local phase of the 36th Physics Olympiad at the Polytechnic University of Valencia.
