IYPT 2024 Day 1 — Opening and the First Round

July 11th, my second day in Budapest. The morning was the opening ceremony, held in what looked like a grand hall — no air conditioning, unbearably hot, and with a distinctly ceremonial flavour: speeches from officials and sponsors, an interlude of solo Hungarian folk dance (the performance itself was excellent, though the heat made everything difficult), and then, as a finale, a visit from Ernő Rubik — the inventor of the Rubik's Cube. As perhaps Cornell's most devoted speed-cuber, I was suddenly transported back to the days of racing for the immortal golden cube. The world really does stay connected in the strangest ways.

After the ceremony came the team draw. There was something quietly entertaining about the groupings: Mainland China and Hong Kong together; Czech Republic and Slovakia; Germany, Switzerland and Italy; Romania and Bulgaria. And there, of course, was the self-conscious little flag of Chinese Taipei.

Competition began in the afternoon. Our group included Singapore, Chinese Taipei, and Mexico. The judges introduced themselves briefly, and I found myself thinking that my background was fairly competitive in this field — which made me momentarily second-guess the life choices that had me raising flowers and turtles instead. After three rounds of judging, however, that second-guessing evaporated entirely. Enjoying life is the right call.

How IYPT Actually Works

The judging process is exhausting. Everyone — competitors, judges, organisers — is drained, and the room is hot. But the competition format is genuinely thrilling. Think of each session as a three-way argument: one team presents their solution to a physics problem (the "Reporter"), a second team challenges and picks it apart (the "Opponent"), and a third team summarises the key points of the exchange and assesses both (the "Reviewer"). Then the roles rotate. The judge's job is to score who played their role best.

The format demands more than preparation. Comprehension, quick thinking, and the ability to construct arguments fluently under pressure are all tested in real time. It is genuinely hard-core — and far more interesting to watch than a conventional science competition.

After the first day, veteran judge Alex from Australia noted that Singapore is consistently formidable — they have won multiple times. Having watched three rounds, I agree. They are impressive. If I am honest, even with years of physics immersion, I would probably be at their level at best. Their students have real futures ahead of them.

After the Competition

After the rounds ended, we slipped out for Goulash — regrettably uninspiring — and then walked to the Hungarian Parliament building. There were things in the sky that might have been birds, might have been bats. But the view from the riverbank, with the Danube and the palace lit on the opposite shore, was enough to soothe the noise and heat of the day.