This a record year in terms of participation, with 19 teams from 16 countries competing. The teams will try to answer questions like, “Is it possible to estimate how far away a train is, and how fast it’s travelling, merely from the sound it makes as it approaches?” and “How can the structure of a samara – the helicopter-like fruit that grows on certain trees – inspire more efficient parachute design?”
EPFL won the gold medal last year, so it’s defending its title. But the six-day event – which runs from April 21-26 – is also an opportunity for networking.
“Once the qualifying stages are over, you often see teams discussing how physics is taught in their country,” says coordinator Evgenii Glushkov, a PhD student in the EPFL laboratory of nanoscale biology. “Competing for the medals is only part of what the IPT is about. We all head home having learned something – and met lots of new people along the way.”
The public can watch the presentations throughout the week, and the final, which will take place at the Rolex Learning Center Forum on April 26, will be broadcast live. Click hereExternal link for the full schedule.
More
More
EPFL marks 50 years of scientific progress
This content was published on
Over the past five decades, the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) has been the home of many scientific discoveries.
Swiss investigate four people linked to Russian oligarch
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland is investigating four individuals linked to Russian oligarch Suleyman Kerimov.
Swiss government scrambles to deal with egg shortage
This content was published on
From September 1, more eggs intended for consumption may be imported into Switzerland. In allowing this, the government wants to secure the supply of eggs for consumers.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Scientists invent laser source to detect pollution
This content was published on
Researchers in Lausanne have developed a simple mid-infrared laser source that can be used to detect pollution in the air.
New prosthetic hand can sense objects’ form and position
This content was published on
The device, which took a decade to complete, was developed by scientists at the Federal Institute of Technology EPFLExternal link in Lausanne as well as the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in PisaExternal link and the A. Gemelli University Polyclinic in Rome. It enables amputees to sense an object’s shape, consistency, size and position without…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.