Happy New Year 2009

Olympiad Programme in Physics

The Olympiad programmes in physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy (junior and senior level) and junior science will be a five stage process for each subject separately. The first stage for each subject will be organized by the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT). All the remaining stages will be organized by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE).

Physics
The International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) is an annual event, which is held in the month of June - July in a different country every year. This activity has been conducted regularly for the past 37 years. However, India began to participate in the IPhO only recently - since 1998. It is hoped India's participation in the IPhO will boost the level of science education in the country. The physics olympiad programmes in India aim to promote excellence in physics at the pre-university stage and to select and train participants for the IPhO.

Stages
The physics Olympiad program follows the following 5 stages:
Stage I : National Standard Examination in Physics (NSEP),
Stage II : Indian National Physics Olympiad (INPhO),
Stage III: Orientation cum Selection Camp (OCSC) in physics,
Stage IV : Pre-departure Training Camp (PDT) for IPhO,
Stage V : Participation in International Physics Olympiad (IPhO).
Stage I is entirely the responsibility of IAPT. All the remaining stages are organized by the HBCSE.

The detailed information about eligibility and structure of the stages is given below:

Stage I: National Standard Examination in Physics (NSEP)
NSEP is the first stage of selection of students in the physics Olympiad Programme which is organised by the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT). Every student aspiring to go through successive stages of the programme must enroll for NSEP. NSEP will be held at a large number of centres in the country.
Eligibility:
All Indian students of Class XI or Class XII (Science stream) and born after December 31, 1989 are eligible to appear for NSEP. A student may appear for more than one subject provided the examination schedule allows it. See information about the examination schedule under various subjects. Students who have passed Class XII are not eligible to enroll for NSEP 2008.
It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the eligibility criteria are satisfied. In case at any stage of the program it is found that the student does not satisfy the eligibility criteria, he/she may be disqualified from the program.
Syllabus:
The syllabus for NSEP is broadly equivalent to the senior secondary level (Class XI and Class XII) of CBSE Physics. This is only a rough guideline, and there is no detailed syllabus given for NSEP.

Qualifying for the Second Stage:
Based on performance in NSEP, the top 300 students in order of merit will qualify to appear for the Second Stage of the Olympiad program (INPhO). In case there is a tie at the last position, all additional students with the same marks will also qualify for INPhO.

All students who qualify to appear for INPhO, will get a certificate of merit from IAPT.

Stage II: Indian National Physics Olympiad (INPhO)

INPhO is organized by HBCSE at about 15 centres in the country.

Eligibility: Only students selected from Stage I examination (NSEP) are eligible to appear for INPhO.

Syllabus : The syllabus for INPhO is broadly similar to NSEP but the difficulty level of the questions will be higher.
The syllabus is only a broad guideline. Questions and problems in National Olympiads are usually non-conventional and of high difficulty level, comparable to International Olympiads.

On the basis of performance in INPhO, the top 35 students in the merit list will be selected for Stage III: Orientation Cum Selection Camp (OCSC) in physics.
In the event, there is a tie at the last position, all students with the same marks at this last position will qualify for OCSC.
There will be no other criteria or provision for selection to OCSC.

Stage III: Orientation Cum Selection Camp (OCSC) in Physics

OCSC in physics will be organized by HBCSE sometime in April to June 2009 for 2-3 weeks. The precise dates will be announced prior to or along with the announcement of the selection list for the OCSC.

Eligibility for OCSC : Only the students selected from the merit list of Stage II (INPhO) are eligible. There will be no other criteria or provision.

The camps include several theoretical and experimental tests. Orientation is provided to students especially in experiments. The camps conclude with a valedictory function where distinguished scientists are invited to speak to the students.
The merit list of OCSC is prepared on the basis of the combined theoretical and experimental score aggregated over all the tests in the camp, with 60% weightage for theory and 40% weightage for experiment. Performance in previous stages (NSEP and INPhO) will not be a consideration for the merit list and awards of the OCSC.
The top 5 in the OCSC physics merit list are declared to be special merit awardees. These special merit awardees are given Rs. 5,000/- each in the form of books and cash. In addition there are special prizes to recognize meritorious performance in theory and experiments.
The 5 special merit awardees in physics selected at the end of the OCSC constitute the 5 member student team for the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), provided they satisfy the required criteria such as age limit, holding valid Indian passports, medical fitness, parental consent, etc.

Stage IV: Pre-departure Training (PDT) Camp for IPhO
The selected 5 member Indian team undergoes a rigorous training programme at HBCSE in theory and experiment. Special laboratories have been developed at HBCSE for the purpose. Resource persons from HBCSE and different institutions across the country are invited to train the students.


Stage V: Participation in International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)
The 5 member student team, 2 teacher leaders and 1 scientific observer constitute the delegation to represent India at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). The 40th IPhO is to be held in Mexico tentatively in July 2009.


http://olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in/subjects/physics/stages/stages

Sample Papers for INPhO:INPhO 2008

http://olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in/subjects/physics/papers

REGIONAL COUNCIL RC-11

MINUTES OF IAPT RC- 11 [ANDHRA PRADESH]

FIRST EXECUTIVE MEETING

The first IAPT RC-11[Andhra Pradesh] executive meeting was held at Sri Vignan Vihar, Vijayawada at 10.00 A.M. on Sunday 28-12-2008.Eight members were present.

The meeting was chaired by K.Subba Ramaiah, President, IAPT, RC-11 who welcomed all the executive members in the first meeting of Regional Council, Andhra Pradesh and formally declared the formation and working of the RC-11.

Dr. N.V.Poornachandra Rao, Executive member, IAPT explained the necessity to form the Regional council and activities to promoting physics education in Andhra Pradesh.


Prof.V.S.Murthy, Vice President, IAPT attributed the lack of interest in experimental practice at high school level in the state.


K.Subba Ramaiah pointed out that the physics curriculum with the absence of necessary experimental practice in school and intermediate education in Andhra Pradesh.


D.V.Brahmaji, Treasurer, IAPT shared his experience as author of number of text books and submitted the list of mistakes in intermediate physics text book for discussion in the meeting.


The members discussed about the responsibilities in promoting the IAPT activities in Andhra Pradesh. The secretary is authorized to maintain the minutes book and the treasurer to maintenance of all accounts of all RC transactions.


It is resolved unanimously that a bank account in the name of IAPT RC-11 is to be opened with S.R.K.R. Engineering College Campus branch of the SBH at Bhimavaram. The President and Treasurer will be the authorized signatories. Cheques will be valid only if signed by two of the authorized signatories.


It is unanimously resolved that to induct at least one member from each district into RC to popularize IAPT ideas in their respective regions. Proposed to enroll new members and institutions and also take the necessary steps to increase the participation in NSPE and NGPE.


Dr. M.Kameswara Sarma inducted into RC as a member. Dr.B.Subba Rao,Tenali, R.Ramesh,Vijayawada, B.Pothi Reddy, Chandra Sekhar Reddy, Ramesh Babu of SPACE invited for this meeting.


It is resolved to conduct the Science meet in June, 2009 at R.K.School. Seethanagaram, Vijayawada and also proposed a science programme at Yazili School, Bapatla in 2009.


It is resolved to participate as Resource persons in Teacher Training Workshop at school level of SPACE. It may strengthen the conceptual understanding and improve laboratory activities among teachers.


It was approved the seminar on Natural resources and disaster management at Kadapa during Jan 19-20, 2009.


Considered the letter of D.V.Brahmaji along with the details about the mistakes in intermediate Physics text book published by Telugu Academy, Hyderabad and it was agreed to organize a one day workshop with the IAPT members of Andhra Pradesh and proposed to submit a letter to the concerned authorities. As the RC-11, IAPT seized of the matter which is of public interest, D.V.Brahmaji is advised not to resort to any individual activities.


Regarding travel expenses it was agreed to follow the central IAPT norms, i.e. to reimburse three times the sleeper class train fare by the shortest route.


The meeting ended with a commitment from all the members that they will carry out the IAPT Regional Council activities with total dedication.


The Regional Council members thanked the Principal Mrs.B.V.S.S.M.Lakshmi, Correspondent Sri.K.Ohmkara Narasimham and Science teacher Sri R.Ramesh of Sri Vignan Vihar Enikepadu, Vijayawada for excellent arrangements provided to conduct the first executive meeting.

K.Subba Ramaiah, President, IAPT, RC-11