Here's a proud news for Pakistani citizens! The Pakistan team won three bronze medals in the 54th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), held in Isfahan, Iran from 21^st July to 28^th July 2024. The Pakistan team participated in the Physics Olympiad under the sponsorship of the STEM Careers program, a joint venture of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Science (PIEAS). The Physics team was trained at PIEAS, Islamabad by Dr. Mohammad Irfan and Prof. Dr. Amanur Rehman. The team was led in the competition by Prof. Dr. Najeebur Rehman from COMSATS, Islamabad, and Dr. Rahmatullah from COMSATS. This is the first time that all four team members trained at PIEAS secured medals and certificates.

The Pakistani students participated in IPhO and brought successes to the country are:

• Talha Ashraf

• Huzaifa Altamash

• Mohammad Salman Tarar

• Mohammad Saad Bilal

The IPhO Victorious Participants

The Pakistani participants made the nation proud with their remarkable achievements:

1. Talha Ashraf from Nixor College, Karachi

2. Huzaifa Altamash from Lahore Grammar School, Senior Boys Campus, Johar Town, Lahore

3. Mohammad Salman Tarar from the Science School, H-9/1, Islamabad

These 3 students won a bronze medals each, while Mohammad Saad Bilal from Siddeeq Public School & College, Rawalpindi received an honorable mention.

About the International Physics Olympiad

The International Physics Olympiad is an annual physics competition for the high school students and one of the International Science Olympiads. The first IPhO was held in Warsaw, Poland in 1967. Each national delegation consists of up to five student competitors and two leaders, selected on a national level. And if we talk about the achievements of these young Pakistani students highlight the dedication and talent present in Pakistan's educational system. Their success at the International Physics Olympiad is a testament to their hard work and the excellent training provided by PIEAS and the STEM Careers program.

PIEAS and the National Science Talent Contest

PIEAS, under the auspices of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), conducts the National Science Talent Contest (NSTC) in four subjects: physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics. This contest is an extension of the National Physics Talent Contest (NPTC), initiated by PIEAS in 1995 and held annually since 2003. It aims to vitalize science education at the intermediate level, a crucial stage for professional career choices.

STEM Careers Program and Training Camps

Under the STEM Careers program, students selected through the NSTC, conducted in 19 cities across Pakistan, are further trained for participation in the International Science Olympiads (ISOs) at four home institutes. The top 50 students from the screening test are invited to residential training camps at the home institutes for each subject.