Student award winners, parents, and teachers gathered at National Junior College on Saturday, 24 February 2024, to celebrate the achievements of young physicists who won medals in the 2023 Singapore Physics Olympiad (SPhO). It was a day for an unparalleled celebration of physics as this Awards Ceremony was held in conjunction with the Category A Finals for the Singapore Young Physicists’ Tournament (SYPT).

In the opening remarks, students were invited to let the joy of physics guide them, to sharpen their communication skills, and to apply what they learn through physics to other areas.

The SPhO is organised by the Institute of Physics Singapore (IPS) and sponsored by Micron. The medallists received their prizes from the President of IPS, Professor Christian Kurtsiefer, and the Director of Micron Gives (Asia & EMEA), Ms Antara Lahiri.

Close to 200 JC1 students from various schools participated in the 36^th Singapore Physics Olympiad (SPhO) in 2023. A total of 32 gold medals, 19 silver medals and 29 bronze medals were awarded. Congratulations to all winners!

After the medal presentations, Prof Kurtsiefer presented a token of appreciation to Ms Lahiri for Micron’s sustained sponsorship of the Physics Olympiads.

Guests were provided with light refreshments after the ceremony. There was time for a bit of networking before the exciting Final Fights of the SYPT. A big thank you to NJC for hosting the SPhO awards ceremony and the 2024 edition of the SYPT!

The experimental round for the 36th Singapore Physics Olympiad (SPhO) will be held on 23 Nov 2023, at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Students who have been informed by their schools should take note of the instructions below, and arrive at the timing appropriate for their shift.

Details

Date: 23 Nov 2023 (Thursday)
Time: Reporting and dismissal time depends on shift, as shown below
- Shift 1: 12.30pm – 3.30pm
- Shift 2: 2.30pm – 5.30pm
Venue: Year 1 Physics Lab (Report to the Holding Room), Blk S12, Level 4, Room 1, NUS Science Faculty [map]
Note: Actual duration of examination is two hours.

Attire

School uniform

Materials

Identity Card or Student Pass
Pens, pencils, rulers, staplers, and other stationery (including flexible curve ruler to plot non-linear graphs)
Calculator (graphing calculators are not allowed, only scientific calculators are acceptable)

The syllabus for the competition is the same as for the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). The syllabus can be downloaded as a PDF from here. Good luck and have fun with physics!

Instructions for actual day

Be punctual!
Staple all your answer scripts together (or as otherwise instructed on the actual day). Make sure you have your index number written on every sheet you hand in.

The theoretical round for the 36th Singapore Physics Olympiad (SPhO) will be held on 21st October 2023, at the National Institute of Education (NIE).

Students who have been nominated by their schools should take note of the instructions below.

Spacetime Coordinates

Date and Time: 21st October 2023 (Saturday), 0930-1630 hours [lunch is provided]
Venue: NIE, between Blocks 5 & 7
- Meet outside Lecture Theatres 1 & 2
- Students will then be split to:
  - Lecture Theatre 1 (index 001-141)
  - Lecture Theatre 2 (index 142-214)
- Click for general directions to NIE

Attire

School uniform

Materials

Identity Card or Student Pass
Pens, pencils, rulers, staplers, and other stationery
Calculator (graphing calculators are not allowed, only scientific calculators are acceptable)

Syllabus

The syllabus for the competition is the same as for the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). The syllabus can be downloaded as a PDF here.

Instructions for actual day

Be punctual!
Paper 1: two hours (before lunch). Paper 2: two hours (after lunch).
Check that your particulars on the attendance list are correct (especially your name, as these will be used to prepare certificates) and sign on the attendance sheet.
Staple all your answer scripts together (or as otherwise instructed on the actual day). Make sure you have your index number written on every sheet you hand in.
About 50 students will be selected for the experimental round in the afternoon on 23 Nov 2023 (Thursday) — these students will be notified through their school teachers.

Draft Programme

9am to 9.30am – Attendance taking
9.30am to 9.50am – Seated in LTs by 9.50am
10am to 12nn – Paper 1 (two hours)
12nn to 12.10pm – Script collection and counting
12.10pm to 12.35pm – Short talks
12.35pm to 1.30pm – Lunch (catered)
1pm to 1.40pm – Physics demonstrations at various venues
1.40pm to 1.50pm – Seated in LTs by 1.50pm
2pm to 4pm – Paper 2 (two hours)
4pm to 4.10pm – Script collection and counting
4.10pm – Dismissal

https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/spot-2023-physics-learning-day-tickets-644896441617

The SPOT 2023 team, with some alumni and other physics enthusiasts, attended a series of talks and went on a learning journey to the Singapore Synchrotron Light Source (SSLS). It was a day to remember.

Huge thanks to the speakers and to the wonderful team at SSLS for hosting us!