Welcome Note

The International Physics Olympiad at the University of Zurich

To all participants and guests of the International Physics Olympiad

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 2016 International Physics Olympiad, which will take place this year from 11 to 17 July at the University of Zurich.

As a higher education institution with a long tradition of fostering the development of bright young minds, we are honoured to partner and host the event – the first Physics Olympiad to be held in Switzerland. Together with the staff and students at the Department of Physics, we look forward to welcoming you: 400 talented and motivated young physics enthusiasts from 90 different nations.

International Science Olympiads have garnered international renown, partly because they send an important message to all participants: Scholarship is global. It traverses the world and unites nations and cultures. I know you will be striving to excel in the competition, but I also encourage all contestants to take advantage of this unique opportunity to meet and to and establish contact with young scientists from all over the world.

I am convinced you are on an important path: The great challenges of today and tomorrow – addressing climate change, and providing clean water, food and energy to an increasing global population – all of these will depend greatly on advances in the natural sciences.

I hope your stay at the University of Zurich and in Switzerland is stimulating and enriching – and I naturally wish you all the best for the games.

Prof. Michael O. Hengartner, President of the University of Zurich