47th UBC Physics Olympics
Prof. Valery Milner congratulates the students who won medals in the Pre-Build challenge at the 47th (2025) UBC Physics Olympics
UBC Physics Olympics is a province-wide annual collaborative outreach event at the University of British Columbia that I have been involved in for almost 20 years now. It brings together 1000+ students and more than 80 teachers from all over British Columbia: 2025 UBC Physics Olympics map. During the day, the students compete in various hands-on physics challenges, while the teachers meet each other and participate in an informal Pro-D event (led by physics teachers) that addresses the topics of interest for them. The event is a collaboration between the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Education: https://physoly.phas.ubc.ca/physics-olympics-2023/
I am always inspired by the enthusiasm of the students and the creative ideas they bring. The UBC Physics Olympics shows what a collaboration between different faculties, faculty members, graduate and undergraduate students can achieve. We have written about this outreach event and we hope other universities will also do similar activities to engage students in physics and in STEM in general.
Papers:
Zhang, B., et al. (2024). “Science Outreach Activities: Practice · Experience · Cooperation – Take UBC Physics Olympics as an example; 科学拓展活动：实践·体验·合作 ——以UBC物理奥林匹克活动为例.” Physics Teacher (China) 43(11): 90-96.
Milner-Bolotin, M. and V. Milner (2024). “Increasing student science, technology, engineering and mathematics engagement through phyphox activities: Three practical examples.” Future in Education Research 3(3): 111-126.
Milner-Bolotin, M., et al. (2019). “UBC Physics Olympics: Forty-one years of province-wide physics outreach.” International Newsletter on Physics Education: International Commission on Physics Education – International Union of Pure and Applied Physics 70(November): 5-6.
Liao, T., et al. (2017). “Four decades of High School Physics Olympics Competitions at the University of British Columbia ” Physics in Canada 73(3): 127-129.