The HKUST Department of Physics has been providing training to about 90 secondary school students to prepare for the Asian Physics Olympiad since 2007 and the International Physics Olympiad since 2003. The year-long training program offered to these gifted students covers a wide range of topics, from Newtonian mechanics to modern physics, both in theory and experiment. The team members that eventually participate in the APhO and IPhO competitions are chosen based on their performance in a series of selection tests and competitions during their training. The Hong Kong teams under the mentorship of the Department faculty were awarded an aggregate of 148 gold, silver and bronze medals in APhO and IPhO competitions up to and including 2024. Participation in Physics Olympics training and competition develops students’ potential and serves as a springboard for pursuing interests in physics and many other subjects at top universities and beyond.
Eight talented secondary school students from Hong Kong achieved excellent results at the 24th Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO 2024) held in Malaysia from 3-10 June 2024. The Hong Kong APhO team members were Chan Hoi-chi (Hong Kong Chinese Women's Club College), Edison Fu (Queen's College), Leung Chi-fung (Evangel College), Liu Lincoln (Sha Tin College) Matthew Mui (The Hong Kong Sze Yap Commercial and Industrial Association Wong Tai Shan Memorial College), Marcus Poon (Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School), Michael Tang (St. Joseph's College), and Yan King-yiu (Queen Elizabeth School). Competing among over 200 students from 27 countries or cities, the team won one gold medal (Liu), three silver medals (Leung, Fu, Yan), two bronze medals (Mui, Tang), and two honourable mentions (Chan, Poon), and was ranked 8th among all teams at the competition. The team was trained and mentored this year by Dr. Ting-Pong Choy, Prof. Adrian Po, and Prof. Jensen Li of the HKUST Department of Physics, with the support of the Education Bureau and the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education.
