International Young Physicists' Tournament

The International Young Physicists' Tournament (IYPT) is a global team competition where high school students tackle open-ended physics problems over many months and then present and defend their solutions in a debate-style "Physics Fight." Instead of short, fixed-answer questions, participants investigate 17 challenging real-world problems each year, design and run experiments, develop theoretical models, and communicate their findings clearly. Teams typically consist of 3–5 high school students selected through national or regional rounds. During the international tournament, teams rotate through roles as Reporter (presenting their work), Opponent (critiquing and questioning another team), and Reviewer (evaluating both sides), building skills in research, public speaking, collaboration, and scientific argumentation. The IYPT offers a unique pre-university experience that closely resembles real scientific research and peer review, making it especially valuable for students interested in physics, engineering, or STEM research careers.