2012 U.S. Physics Team Brings Home Three Gold Medals & Two Silver Medals

While the eyes of the world were turning to London for the Olympics, physics was in the air in Estonia as America’s best high-school physics students participated in the 43rd International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). Teams from 88 countries joined in the competition, held 15-23 July 2012 in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, and the old university town of Tartu. China and Taiwan tied for first place with 5 gold medals. Singapore was second with 4 golds. The U.S., Korea, and Russia tied with 3 golds and 2 silvers each.

Members of the 2012 U.S. Physics Team:

• Jeffrey Cai, Ridge High School, Basking Ridge, NJ – Silver Medalist
• Allan Sadun, Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School, Austin, TX – Gold Medalist
• Eric Schneider, High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ – Gold Medalist. Eric was third overall and received a Special Prize for the Best Solution of the Theoretical.
• Jeffrey Yan, Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto, CA – Silver Medalist
• Kevin Zhou, High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ – Gold Medalist

Traveling as part of the delegation were academic director Paul Stanley and coach Andrew Lin.

The U.S. Physics Olympiad Program is a joint initiative of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) in partnership with the University of Maryland Physics Department, the Joint Quantum Institute, and the member societies of the American Institute for Physics (AIP), including the AAS.

— Marilyn Gardner, AAPT

More information:

• Longer version of this article
• Main website of the U.S. Physics Team
• History of the physics team, including past winners
• 43rd International Physics Olympiad