The 51st International Physics Olympiad (IPhO2021), the world's premier event for the world's most talented physics students, concluded in Vilnius over the weekend. Nearly 400 students from 76 countries took part in the two parts of the Olympiad - experimental and theoretical - and Lithuania played a special role this year by organising the week-long Olympiad by distance learning.

South Korean student Kim Kyungmin was the top scorer in the Olympiad, with the highest score in all tasks. Gold medals went to students from Russia, China, Singapore, USA, France, Romania and Hungary.

Lithuanian students Emilis Strazdas (teachers Stasė Traigienė student) and Tomas Babelis (teachers Remigijus Jakutis, Stasė Traigienė student) from Vilnius Jesuit Gymnasium, Monika Šadauskaitė from KTU Gymnasium (teacher Alvydas Jotautis), and Justas Kaminskas (teacher Genovaitė Meinorienė) from Mažeikiai Gabija Gymnasium, were awarded the bronze medals. Tadas Danilevičius from Klaipėda Lyceum (teachers Saulius Žukauskas, Marius Žadvydas) was awarded a letter of commendation.

Students from all over the world took part in virtual tours of Lithuania, listened to lectures by Nobel Laureate Didier Queloz. Lithuanian physics scientists, competed in brain battles, and watched folk dancing and Lithuanian food preparation lessons.

The event was coordinated by the Faculty of Physics of Vilnius University and involved a team of almost 200 people.

LR Švietimo, mokslo ir sporto ministerijos informacija (www.smm.lt)