IIP hosts physics tournament for young students
IIP celebrates highlights of the Brazilian Physics Tournament and raises expectations for the second edition of the Women's Physics Tournament
On March 8, the auditorium of the International Institute of Physics (IIP) was the venue for the award ceremony honoring the medalists of the Brazilian Physics Tournament (TBF), organized by the Brazilian Physics Society (SBF), with the support of the IIP-UFRN. The ceremony brimmed with excitement from the participating students, especially those selected for the three teams set to represent Brazil in international events.
"It's incredibly thrilling to witness the students competing in the final phase, but there's also a sense of camaraderie, as this is where the teams for the Brazilian delegation in the International Olympics will emerge," explained Professor Inês Sauerwein, one of the TBF organizers.
Among the youths selected for the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) is Luiz Claudio Germano Costa, from Rio Grande do Norte. He will be one of four Brazilian students competing against peers from around the world in Tehran, Iran, in July.
"The event was amazing; participating was a fantastic experience, and I had the opportunity to meet many people. It was quite intense, especially in the final stretch, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Having previously competed in TBF 2023, I already had a rough idea of how it worked. Being in Natal made it even better because I could visit my family," shared the gold medalist, who currently lives in Ceará state.
Additionally, two other teams composed of silver and bronze medalists will take part in the European and Ibero-American Physics Olympiads.
Girls in the competition
Moreover, the event also united five students who achieved remarkable results in the Physics Tournament for Girls (TFM), heightening expectations for the tournament's second edition.
Debuting in 2023 through a collaboration between IIP and three other institutions—UFSM, IFCE, and IFPE — the TFM aims to foster participation, leadership, and interest among students, encompassing both public and private educational networks, in physics tournaments and Olympiads.
Professor Dr. Nara Bigolin from UFSM, coordinator of the Movimento Meninas Olímpicas founded in 2015 and of the TFM organization committee, conducted a study on female participation in hard science olympics. The study revealed a significant gender disparity in national olympiads in physics, mathematics, and information technology, with few female medalists. In fact, only one girl won a gold medal in the Physics Olympics in 2016.
"The lingering question is: if the Brazilian population comprises more than 50% women, why aren't girls winning medals in the Olympics? We observed a decline in the number of girls as the tournaments became more competitive. This trend is also reflected in the underrepresentation of women in decision-making and prestigious roles. In response, various initiatives have been implemented, such as the establishment of women's Olympics, including TFM and TFC (the Women's Computing Tournament), along with special awards for girls in 15 national and international Olympiads, as well as in 15 Legislative Assemblies across Brazil. The goal is to encourage girls to increasingly occupy and excel in these domains, recognizing that the absence of girls in the Olympics today means the absence of women scientists or politicians tomorrow," argues Nara.
The inaugural edition of TFM attracted nearly 2,000 participants from various regions of Brazil. Divided into two distinct phases—online and in-person—the tournament was designed to provide inclusivity and promote opportunities for participants to acquire and apply their knowledge in the field of physics.
Currently, TFM serves as one of the qualifying events for girls aiming to participate in TBF, exemplified by Gisela Ceresér Kassick, from Rio Grande do Sul, who achieved classification in the first edition of the women's tournament.
"My journey in TBF started with TFM. I wasn't aware of this Olympiad until my teacher introduced it to me, and many girls from my school signed up as well. The first test was dynamic, with quick questions, while the second was more challenging. However, its logical structure helped us reason through even unfamiliar content. It's a demanding test, but the experience is truly rewarding," she shared.
Gisela also emphasized the value of connecting with students from other Brazilian states. "I found it remarkable how easily we could communicate with other participating girls at TBF, despite not knowing each other before the event. Conversations flowed naturally, as we shared many common interests."
Joelle Calado Venâncio, a student from Pernambuco, described the event as a profoundly positive experience in her academic journey. "I believe it's a worthwhile experience that warrants taking a chance. It's something you truly understand only when you're part of it. If it proves successful, it becomes yet another incredible experience to cherish."
The competition yielded excellent results, which pleasantly surprised the TFM team, as highlighted by Maria Luiza Miguez, the general coordinator of the tournament.
"A noteworthy aspect that fills me with pride is how well the competition was embraced. We received applications from states that, at times, don't even participate in the Brazilian Physics Olympiad (OBF). One of the participants, hailing from the interior of Piauí, traveled approximately 200km to take the test, leaving me deeply impressed. This underscores the significance of TFM and its impact on them," Miguez shares.
The second edition of TFM will open registrations to allow elementary school students in the 8th and 9th grades to compete.
"The younger the competitors, the more enthusiastic they tend to be. It's common for high school students to already be focusing on entrance exams, so expanding this opportunity to younger competitors would be highly beneficial," adds the general coordinator of the event with enthusiasm.
In addition to students, TFM also encouraged the participation and engagement of physics teachers. According to Maria Luiza Miguez, many educators supported the initiative by encouraging students to participate in the competition, as they also resonated with the tournament's purpose and the idea of empowering young women through education.
Professor Dr. Fernando Wellysson, who was responsible for developing the TFM tests, emphasizes:
"Many participants attained remarkable results in the tournament. Among them, the top five performers were selected to participate in the TBF, leading to a significant increase in the number of girls competing in this event."
Currently, the TFM team is in the process of organizing new activities for the competition, with plans to finalize and publish the regulations for the second edition of the tournament by the end of April.
Professor Dr. Klaus Capelle, the leader of the Science Teaching group at IIP-UFRN and co-organizer of TFM, emphasizes that the tournament serves as a platform to showcase girls' capabilities in science, contributing to their development and preparing them for national and international Olympiads.
"Unfortunately, there are relatively few girls who qualify for national physics Olympiads compared to boys. This disparity impacts Brazil's performance in international Olympiads by depriving them of female talent, as well as results in lower productivity gains compared to mixed-gender teams. Therefore, in the medium and long term, TFM is expected to enhance Brazil's performance in international competitions," explains Capelle, expressing even greater optimism for the upcoming editions of TFM.
Expectations for the second edition of TFM are high. The event organizers endeavored to ensure an even better and more meaningful experience for the students.
"Our goal is for the girls to continue growing and increasingly shine in tournaments. The aim is for them to achieve better results and feel inspired to delve deeper into the study of physics," concludes Maria Luiza Miguez.
