site.btaBulgarian School Students Win 4 Medals at International Physics Olympiad in France

Bulgaria’s top-performing high school students in physics brought home four medals and an honourable mention from the 55th edition of the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), the most prestigious global physics competition for high schoolers. Competing against over 400 students from 85 countries, the Bulgarian team secured four bronze medals during the event, held in Paris, France, from July 17 to 25, according to the Natural Sciences Olympic Teams Association.

The bronze medallists are: Hristo Hristov (11th grade, Sofia High School of Mathematics); Iliya Nikov (12th grade, Veliko Tarnovo High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences); Alexander Nikolov (11th grade, Private High School of Mathematics and Science, Sofia); Svetoslav Arabov (9th grade, Varna High School of Mathematics). Peter Petrov (12th grade, Varna High School of Mathematics) narrowly missed a medal and was awarded an honourable mention. The Bulgarian delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Miroslav Abrashev and Associate Prof. Dr. Neno Todorov of the Faculty of Physics at St Kliment Ohridski of Sofia University.

The Olympiad consisted of two rounds: an experimental component and a theoretical component. Participants tackled two experimental problems in the first round and three theoretical problems in the second.

The International Physics Olympiad was established in 1967 by Bulgaria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Romania. Bulgaria has participated in every edition since its inception. The competition typically includes teams from around 85 countries.

To date, Bulgarian students have earned a total of 150 medals at the IPhO: 15 gold, 46 silver, and 89 bronze.