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U.S. Physics Team Travelers Selected for 2017 International Physics Olympiad

US Physics Team at 2017 IPHO

L-R: Jimmy Qin, Michele Song, Shreyas Balaji, Kye Shi, Sanjay Raman

Contact: David Wolfe

E-mail: dwolfe@aapt.org

Phone: (301) 209-3327

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, MD, July 24, 2017—The United States Physics Team ranked eighth place out of 88 countries at the 48th International Physics Olympiad that was held in Yogya, Indonesia, July 16-24, 2017. Themed, "Joyful Camaraderie Beyond the Speed of Light!," the nine day competition among the world's top high school physics students consisted of an Experimental Exam and a Theoretical Exam. The team also experienced several cultural outgoings and visits that included tours of the Indonesian Air Force Museum, Borobudur Temple and Malioboro Street, Tembi Village and Kotagede Silver Craft, and Monumen Uogya Kembali and Merapi Museum.

Several counties won five gold in this difficult exam contest: china, Korea, Russia, Singapore. Countries winning four gold and one silver medal were Vietnam, Romania, and India. The participants representing the 2017 U.S. Physics Team were:

Shreyas Balaji, John Foster Dulles High School Sugar Land, TX, Gold

Jimmy Qin, Seminole High School, Sanford, FL, Gold

Sanjay Raman, Lakeside School, Seattle, WA, Silver

Kye Shi, Monte Vista Christian School, Watsonville, CA, Gold

Michelle Song, Mission San Jose High School, Fremont, CA , Silver

The U.S. Team was led by Paul Stanley of Beloit College and David Fallest of North Carolina State University. 

"AAPT is proud to lead the selection process that identifies such exceptional student scholars. Their outstanding performance in this international competition is a reflection of the work of their coaches, the entire 2016 Physics Team, the support of their families, and the best of physics education," said Dr. Beth A. Cunningham, Executive Officer of the American Association of Physics Teachers.

Funding and Sponsorship
The U.S. Physics Olympiad Program was started in 1986 by AAPT to promote and demonstrate academic excellence. It continues to be supported as a joint initiative between AAPT, AIP, and the member societies of the American Institute of Physics:

American Association of Physicists in Medicine
American Association of Physics Teachers
American Astronomical Society
American Crystallographic Association
American Meteorological Society
American Institute for Physics
American Physical Society
AVS: Science &Technology of Materials, Interfaces, and Processing
Optical Society of America
The Society of Rheology

Hosting Universities
George Washington University
University of Maryland

Corporate Sponsors:
Anonymous
Ansatz
Beloit College
Cambridge University Press
D.E.Shaw
Ellington Management Group
Pearson
Princeton University Press
Texas Instruments
Wiley

Funding for the U.S. Physics Team also depends on donations from concerned individuals and organizations. Contributions are entirely used to support the selection, training, and travel of the team. Donations to the U.S. Physics Team are accepted at www.aapt.org/physicsteam/donate.cfm.

MORE ON THE WEB
Main website of the U.S. Physics Team: http://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/2017/
History of the physics team, including past winners: http://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/2017/program.cfm
47th International Physics Olympiad: http://www.ipho2016.org/

ABOUT AAPT

AAPT is an international organization for physics educators, physicists, and industrial scientists—with members worldwide. Dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching, AAPT provides awards, publications, and programs that encourage teaching practical application of physics principles, support continuing professional development, and reward excellence in physics education. Founded in 1930, the Association is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.