Olympiad in Japan: Two Bronze Medals and One Honourable Mention for BiH Physicists

(Patria) - At the 53rd International Physics Olympiad held from 7 to 17 July in Tokyo, Japan, young physicists from Bosnia and Herzegovina won two bronze medals and one honourable mention.

The International Physics Olympiad is the oldest and largest physics competition for secondary school students, with around 400 students from over 80 countries worldwide participating this year. Each country was entitled to register a maximum of five students. Students compete by solving experimental and theoretical tasks.

Both tests are taken separately, lasting five hours each over two days.

The representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina at this year's International Physics Olympiad were Dženan Midžić (Gimnazija Bihać, 4th grade), Muhamed Numanović (Richmond Park School Tuzla, 2nd grade), Elmir Kevilj (Gimnazija "Muhsin Rizvić" Kakanj, 4th grade), Miodrag Ostojić (Technical School "Mihajlo Pupin" Bijeljina, 3rd grade) and Tarik Mujkić (Gimnazija "Rizah Odžečkić" Zavidovići, 4th grade), while the team leaders were Assistant Professor Benjamin Fetić, PhD, from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Sarajevo and Fatih Žgalj, a first-year student at the Department of Physics of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Sarajevo and a former Olympian.

Jelena Milanović, a physics teacher at the Technical School "Mihajlo Pupin" from Bijeljina, also travelled with the team as an observer.

Dženan Midžić and Muhamed Numanović won bronze medals, while Miodrag Ostojić received an honourable mention.

Our students demonstrated a high level of knowledge in physics, even though the tasks were a real challenge, especially the experimental part, with which our students usually have the greatest difficulties because during their schooling they either never or, at best, very rarely encounter experiments. We are glad that we managed to win two medals along with an honourable mention, because our goal has always been to return home with at least two medals.

We will have to make an additional effort during preparations next year to win a silver medal as well, which is not an unrealistic goal because Muhamed and Miodrag are students who will have an additional opportunity next year to compete for a place on the Olympic team, Fatih Žgalj, one of the team leaders, told us.

During the Olympiad, students had the opportunity to get to know Japan and Japanese culture better through several excursions to various places in Japan. In addition, students attended lectures by two Japanese Nobel laureates in physics, Professor Takaaki Kajita and Professor Hiroshi Amano.

From the Society of Physicists of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which organises the departure of students from Bosnia and Herzegovina to international physics competitions, we were told that this year it was a challenge to secure funds for the trip to the Olympiad. Thanks to numerous donors and sponsors, they managed to buy plane tickets and pay participation fees on time.

The departure of our young physicists to the 53rd International Physics Olympiad was financially supported by the Government of Tuzla Canton, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić, the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo and Mayor Hasan Tanović, the Government of Una-Sana Canton, BH Telecom dd, ZIKO doo Zavidovići, AB Petrol Kakanj, MojSan Kakanj, DSM Trade doo Kakanj, Kakanj Cement Plant, the Municipality of Kakanj, the City of Bijeljina, the City of Bihać, the Fetić family from Des Moines, USA, professors of Gimnazija "Muhsin Rizvić" from Kakanj, Menprom Tuzla, Građevinar doo Živinice, Auto top centar BH doo Ilijaš, the Chairman of the Assembly of Zenica-Doboj Canton, the Pedagogical Institute of the Republic of Srpska, EFTIM Tuzlić doo Zavidovići, the Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton, the Office of the Prime Minister of Zenica-Doboj Canton, the Halilović and Dizdarević families from Zenica, Mr. Ahmet Mahić, and several donors who wished to remain anonymous.