We are pleased to announce a US selection of the International Physicists’ Tournament 2019. The registration is open at https://conferences.lbl.gov/event/215. Registration deadline is October 25, but we need your early registration for easier planning.
Teams from University of Wisconsin-Madison, Columbia University, Oklahoma State University, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Stanford have already expressed interest (but not registered yet… please register!)
Some questions and answers from communication with interested teams:
What is tournament like?
Physicists’ Tournament is a contest for undergraduate students, which involves physics (both theoretical and experimental), show and debate. Student are given several months to solve open-ended problems in teams (max. 6 students per team). At the tournament they present their solutions and criticize solutions of others during debates also known as “Physics Fights”.
The US Physicists’ Tournament is a part of a bigger International tournament. Winners of the US tournament qualify for the International one.
Where and when?
UC Berkeley, December 7-8, 2019. Registration deadline is 25. October 2019.
How to join?
What are the problems to solve?
The problems are the same set of 17 problems that will be at the international tournament 2020. The list is available at http://2020.iptnet.info/problems/. You do not need to solve all of them. Choose your favourite and work on them. I recommend not more than 2 problems per player. One problem per player should be sufficient to participate and have a chance to win. Note that the number of allowed rejections will be larger at the US tournament, than at the international tournament, so you have more chances to report the problem you like.
How to register?
A team captain should go to https://conferences.lbl.gov/event/215/, click on “Apply here” link, and enter the information. Optionally one can just send an e-mail to usa@iptnet.info with information about the team captain, team name, and University. Registration deadline is October 25, 2019.
Is there a preselection for US tournament?
No, except in unlikely case if we get more than 9 teams registered.
Do all my team members have to be from the same university?
No, feel free to assemble a team from different universities.
Would you be covering our expenses of accommodation in UC Berkeley, or do I have to speak with my university for funds?
Unfortunately, travel and accommodation are not covered by the organizers. You have to apply for funding from your university.
Are their some examples of actual tournament debates and presentations?
You can watch it on the official youtube IPT channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxqmYbkD2iz2oQj2SmkiNKQ. Some presentations from IPT are available here: http://iptnet.info/solutions-database/.