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Wednesday, March 4, 2020: 42 UBC Physics Olympics on March 7, 2020 is cancelled.

Due to the spread of the coronavirus around the world and in order to help the efforts of containing it, we decided to postpone the 42nd UBC Physics Olympics to 2021. So there will be NO Physics Olympics on March 7, 2020. We are very sorry about this unfortunate outcome. A letter with detailed explanation was sent to all the coaches of the registered teams. We will see you in 2021!

Q&A

Question 1: Will all the pre-build challenges and labs (electrical, center of mass) be the same?

Answer 1: We are planning for the pre-build challenge and labs to be the same, and to use the 2020 rulebook for the 2021 event. If due to some significant and critical circumstance that we must make changes (we currently do not anticipate this), we will make such announcements as early as we possibly can.

Question 2: Is it OK if we continue to prepare for it them?

Answer 2: Yes. Existing teams can continue to prepare for it. New teams can start preparation as soon as the team forms.

Question 3: And if so, can we still ask questions? (we have a few more questions)

Answer 3: Yes. Please email the pre-build judges directly.

Vacuum Pump: Dr. Valery Milner (vmilner@phas.ubc.ca)

Rocket Car: Dr. Andrzej Kotlicki (kotlicki@phas.ubc.ca)

Other general questions: Dr. Marina Milner-Bolotin (marina.milner-bolotin@ubc.ca) and Theresa Liao (communications@phas.ubc.ca)

Question 4: Can we count our team’s registration fee for 2020 as a registration fee for 2021?

Answer 4: Yes. Just email us and let us know. If you need to get a receipt for your payment, please email Mrs. Vindy Lin: vindy.lin@ubc.ca. Please remember to indicate your school name.

An earlier announcement:

The 2020 UBC Physics Olympics will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2020. Every year, teams from high schools across British Columbia will compete for medals in 6 science events. The team with the highest overall score will receive a trophy for their school, as well as other awards.

Up to five students from a team can participate in any given event, and different students from a team can participate in different events. As such, teams may have between 1 and 30 students.

While every school team must have a designated coach on the day of the competition, we do not require that the coach be the physics teacher for the school. Any responsible adult may serve as the designated coach, including teachers, parents, administrators, or friends.

2020 Information for teachers:

2020 participating teams