Interview About Physics Tournament: Preparation Process and Future Plans

Students of our school are getting ready for another physics tournament. IYPT, International Young Physicists’ Tournament is the team tournament between high school students that will be held on 9-11 April. The participants present their solutions to scientific problems and then discuss them with other teams. To find solutions to these problems students have to do experiments prior to the tournament. Students of our school have always been actively participating in these types of tournaments and this one is not an exception. The GZAAT team includes five students Shalva Begiashvili, Mashiko Lortkipanidze, Tekla Gogoladze, Irakli Bakuradze , Lizi Ebralidze. They’ve been interviewed to get better idea about the competition and working process.

Interviewer: So, first of all, tell me more about the tournament.

Shalva: IYPT is a very popular physics competition among high school students. We need to conduct experiments, and then get ready to oppose other teams.

Tekla: First of all, students inside Georgia have to win national competitions and then go to the international tournament. So, our team has to defeat other teams in order to participate. Also,solving the problems is not the only goal of the competition. There are other roles for the participants, such as being a reporter, opponent and reviewer. These people are graded by the jury.

Interviewer: Do you have a mentor?

Mashiko: Yes, Robiko Tsintsadze and Kosta Butbaia. They were participating in the tournament themselves and last year they brought their first ever medal to Georgia.

Interviewer: How was the team created?

Shalva: Our mentors approached Ilia Mestvirishvili, physics teacher at GZAAT and he organized a meeting for those who were interested.

Mashiko: In the beginning there were a lot of us, so Ilia mas gave each of us individual problems to choose the best. Later some were no longer interested, some quit and we were the ones who were left.

Interviewer: Why did you decide to participate?

Shalva: I saw Ilia mas’s mail and since I love physics and experiments, planning in that direction I didn't think twice.

Tekla: I love science but I’ve never participated in anything like that before. Since this is my last year, I decided to use this chance.

Lizi: I think, love of physics unites us.

Interviewer: What does the preparation process look like and what type of experiments are you doing?

Tekla: The process is very intense and interesting.Each of us has two problems. I have one problem with the laser which passes through the soap film and I have to investigate the phenomena. Unfortunately, because of the coronavirus we did our experiments on our own without help. From now on we will work at Ilia State University together, so we will be able to help each other.

Interviewer: Did you gain new skills?

Lizi: Yes, definitely. In the beginning, preparing for the experiments was not easy. But over this couple of months me and our team members learnt research techniques, conducting experiments, analyzing data. Besides gaining scientific skills, I’ve become a great presenter and opponent.

Mashiko: First of all, I’ve learnt lots of theories while doing physics research. Also,I did not have experience in designing and conducting experiments. The really interesting part was making simulations and making graphs on the data that was collected.

Irakli: Definitely, I’ve gained a lot in doing physics research but I have to agree with Lizi that the competition does not only require scientific knowledge and skills but also, debating, presenting and etc. So, this has been really interesting and new for me.

Interviewer: And finally, what are your expectations?

Mashiko: Well, expectations… we have to compete with schools like Komarovi and Vekua, and you know they are really good at physics, but I believe in my team.

Shalva: We have a great team and mentors and work hard, so I believe that we can win the tournament and hopefully have one of our teammates in the team of Georgia which will be representing our country at the international tournament which more likely will be held in the new university in Kutaisi.

Tekla: Our team works very hard, so I hope that the results will be successful. As Bobby Knight said: The key is not the will to win.. everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important”

Hope our team will be successful in the competition and will bring another victory to our school!

Edited by Keta Tavartkiladze