International Success for the Team of BME Physics Students

The BME team finished in 7th place at the IPT (International Physicists’ Tournament), an international physics competition, thereby earning automatic qualification for next year’s competition in Milan. Eszter Gábriel was awarded the prize for the most successful opponent in the competition – while discussing the problem titled “Water-laser,” she successfully combined her knowledge of hydrodynamics and optics and engaged in a high-level professional discussion with the Indian team.

This is a particularly impressive achievement, given that 

this is the first time Hungarian students have participated in what is considered the most important international academic competition in the field of experimental physics. 

This year, the IPT was held at Oklahoma State University in the United States, with the participation of 20 countries. The teams invited were those that, through their own independent research, had found the best solutions to the 17 open-ended physics problems published by the organizers last September. In the competition, those who made it past the qualifying round tested their skills in so-called “physicists’ battles.”

During the first two days, each team participated in four battles, during which the participants had to demonstrate their abilities in three different roles: as a presenter, an opponent, and a moderator. The opponent challenges the presenting team on one of the seventeen problems, and the team must either accept the challenge or pass. A team may pass three times without any point deduction; thereafter, each additional pass results in a loss of points. After accepting the challenge, 10 minutes are available for the presentation of the research results, followed by a 5-minute assessment by the opponent. An academic debate then begins, with the moderator joining in after a few minutes. Their duty is to ensure that the students discuss the interpretation of the problem, the utilised literature, the applied models, and the achieved results in a professional manner. At the end of the round, a panel consisting of local professors and the executives of the teams not participating in that particular battle evaluates the performances.

The top nine teams progressed to the semi-finals, where they competed against each other using the same format. The Hungarian team here measured its knowledge and preparedness against Brazil and the defending champions Switzerland. Kornél Dobos presented his work on the experimental demonstration of Maxwell's demon, which seemingly violates the second law of thermodynamics. The professional discussion with experienced international teams provided an excellent opportunity for learning and a deeper understanding of the competition format. The Hungarian delegation also contributed to the competition as professional collaborators: Botond Sánta was a judge in the semi-finals, whilst Anna Nyáry and J. Gergő Fehérvári were judges in the final.

The team will begin preparing for the 2027 Milan competition in September, when the new set of tasks is released.

Rector's Office, Directorate of Communications

Rektori Hivatal, Kommunikációs Igazgatóság