The International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT 2025) has just concluded in Lund, Sweden. After five days of intense scientific competition, the Polish team, consisting of high school students affiliated with the Fenix Scientific Club, is returning home with silver medals and a fifth-place overall finish. 

The Polish team members were Zofia Makowska (captain), Błażej Gorzałek, Piotr Bacciarelli-Grobelny, Krzysztof Maksymowicz, and Mateusz Tarczyński, with team supervisors Jan Truczynowicz and Łukasz Gładczuk. 

The tournament, one of the most prestigious contests for young physics enthusiasts, simulates the real work of scientists—from formulating hypotheses, through conducting experiments, to presenting and defending results. After nearly a year of preparation, students worked on solutions to seventeen complex research problems. Among other topics, they analyzed the acceleration of a water rocket made from a bottle filled with water and compressed air, studied the dripping rhythms of water from a faucet, and examined the phenomenon known as the “dancing spring” (Slinky). 

The competition features a unique format of scientific debates—each team assumes the role of presenter, opponent, or reviewer. The presenter shares their solution, the opponent critically analyzes it and initiates discussion, and the reviewer assesses the substance and flow of the “duel.” This structure not only tests knowledge and experimental skills but also develops communication, argumentation, and teamwork competencies. 

The Polish team was selected through national eliminations organized by the Polish Physical Society, with support from many scientific and educational institutions—including the Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Faculty of Physics at Warsaw University of Technology, BRJ High Speed Cameras, as well as the Parent-Teacher Associations of the Stanisław Staszic 14th High School and the Stefan Batory 2nd High School in Warsaw.