2009 U.S. Physics Team Finalists Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, MD, April 20, 2009Twenty students from across the U.S. have emerged through a rigorous exam process that began last January with approximately 4,000 students who participated in the Fnet=ma exam to become the 2009 U.S. Physics Team . These students will continue to train for the mentally grueling exams and lab tests they’ll face at the 40th International Physics Olympiad, held this year July 12-19 in Merida Yucatan, Mexico.

” AAPT is pleased to recognize all of the physics students who participated in the 2009 Physics Team selection process. They are the future of physics and physics education in the United States. The students who qualified for the team have proven to be exceptional scholars. It is AAPT’s honor to support their further participation in the International Physics Olympiad,” said Dr. Warren Hein, Executive Officer of the American Association of Physics Teachers in College Park, MD, which selects the students and organizes their training.

In preparation for the International Physics Olympiad, the students will spend ten days at a physics training camp at the University of Maryland, College Park, conducting lab experiments, taking exams, and hearing presentations from prominent scientists. At the end of the training camp, five students will be selected to travel to the Mexico for international competition.

The coaches for the 2009 U.S. Physics team are: Paul Stanley, Academic Director/Senior Coach, Warren Turner, Senior Coach/Lab Coach, Andrew Lin, David Jones, and David Fallest are all Coaches.

Last year, the team brought home one silver and four gold medals.

The U.S. Physics Olympiad Program was started in 1986 by AAPT to promote and demonstrate academic excellence. The nine-day international competition brings together pre-university students from more than 60 nations. This year’s event is sponsored by the Mexico Ministry of Education, the National Council of Science and Technology, and the Yucatan State Government with the support of the National University of Mexico, the National Polytechnical Institute, the Metropolitan Autonomous University, and the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research of San Luis Potosi. The 2009 International Physics Olympiad is being organized by the Mexican Physical Society, the University of Yucatan, and the Merida Campus of the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnical Institute.

LIST OF EVENTS:

May 16-26 -- Students visit University of Maryland for their intensive training camp.May 26 -- Five students chosen to represent the US at the international competition.July 11 -- Students arrive in Merida for the international competition.July 19 -- The International Competition’s final awards given.

MORE ON THE WEBMain website of the U.S. Physics Team: http://www.aapt.org/olympiad2009/ History of the physics team, including past winners: http://www.aapt.org/Contests/olympiad.cfm

The official website of the International Physics Olympiad: http://ipho2009.smf.mx/home .

About AAPT: AAPT (www.aapt.org) is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax)Twenty students from across the U.S. have emerged through a rigorous exam process that began last January with approximately 4,000 students who participated in the Fnet=ma exam to become the 2009 U.S. Physics Team . These students will continue to train for the mentally grueling exams and lab tests they’ll face at the 40th International Physics Olympiad, held this year July 12-19 in Merida Yucatan, Mexico