In the midst of late summer, as autumn began to make its presence felt, on August 20th, the 14th China University Physics Tournament (CUPT), organized by the CUPT Organizing Committee and co-hosted by the School of Physical Science and Technology at Southwest Jiaotong University and the Physics Society of Sichuan Province, opened at the Xipu Campus of Southwest Jiaotong University. More than 700 teachers and students from 64 teams representing 63 universities nationwide, along with five observing universities, participated in this prestigious competition. Professor Kang Guozheng, member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Southwest Jiaotong University, Professor Song Feng, Chairman of the CUPT Judging Committee and a professor at Nankai University, Professor Zhang Hong, Chairman of the Physics Society of Sichuan Province and a professor at Sichuan University, Professor Zhang Zengming, leader of the Physics Discipline Group at the National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center and a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, Professor Cui Kai, Director of the Academic Affairs Office, and Professor Liu Yu, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Physical Science and Technology, and Professor Jia Huanyu, Vice Dean (in charge of the work) of the school, were among the attendees at the opening ceremony, which was presided over by Professor Yang Haojian.
First, Professor Kang Guozheng, member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Southwest Jiaotong University, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. In his address, he extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guests and participating teachers and students on behalf of Southwest Jiaotong University. He emphasized the university's long-standing commitment to cultivating students' practical and innovative abilities. He hoped that the participating students would showcase their talents on this important platform for innovative practice, compete in their physics expertise, carry forward the spirit of hard work, continuously improve their learning effectiveness, cultivate their solid skills, bravely shoulder the responsibilities of the times, and make concerted efforts to write a new chapter of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance. He encouraged them to let their life dreams and youthful passion shine brightly on the historical journey of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Professor Zhang Hong, Chairman of the Physics Society of Sichuan Province, addressed the audience. She noted that the CUPT provides an excellent opportunity for academic exchange and cooperation among teachers and students from various universities. The Physics Society of Sichuan Province attaches great importance to this event and is fully committed to its support. She hoped that the students would demonstrate their levels and styles through this competition and make the most of this platform for fostering academic exchange.
Professor Song Feng, Chairman of the CUPT Judging Committee and a professor at Nankai University, delivered his speech. On behalf of the organizing committee, he welcomed the leaders, judging teachers, and students who participated in this offline competition. He expressed gratitude to the guiding teachers and students for their efforts in the lead-up to the competition. He looked forward to students engaging in gentle, polite, and warm-hearted communication during this first offline competition after the pandemic. He anticipated that students would present their achievements harmoniously, with grace and warmth, and foster a sense of camaraderie.
Professor Wang Yuxiao from Harbin Institute of Technology, representing the judging panel, and undergraduate student Luo Yingxi from the School of Physical Science and Technology at Southwest Jiaotong University, representing the participating students, both took the oath. Finally, Professor Kang Guozheng, member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Southwest Jiaotong University, announced the opening of the competition.
From August 21st afternoon to August 23rd, this year's competition featured five rounds of contests held simultaneously across 16 venues. During the competition, teams from participating universities engaged in active discussions and serious debates on relevant physics issues from the perspectives of proposition, opposition, and commentary. On the morning of August 24th, the three teams from Nankai University, East China Normal University, and the University of Science and Technology of China, which had advanced to the finals, competed in the championship round. Ultimately, the team from Nankai University emerged as the champions of this competition.
In the afternoon of August 24th, the closing ceremony of this year's competition, hosted by Professor Li Xiangqiang, Vice Dean of the School of Physical Science and Technology at Southwest Jiaotong University, was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, Professor Xu Yuhong from the School of Physical Science and Technology at Southwest Jiaotong University delivered an academic report titled "Research and Progress on Magnetic Confinement Nuclear Fusion Energy Sources." The report mainly introduced the latest research developments in international magnetic confinement nuclear fusion energy sources and the research progress of the China's first quasi-symmetric stellarator project underway at Southwest Jiaotong University. He emphasized that in the context of the "carbon neutrality" and "carbon peak" era, controlled magnetic confinement fusion research carries the hopes of all humanity for future energy needs. He hoped that every student would be full of hope and actively engage in academic research. In the second stage, the competition was summarized, and the award ceremony took place. Professor Song Feng, Chairman of the CUPT Judging Committee, provided an overview of this year's competition. Subsequently, Deputy Director Liu Zhaohui from the Academic Affairs Office, members of the leadership team of the School of Physical Science and Technology, members of the competition executive committee, and members of the competition committee presented awards to the four universities that received special awards, the nine universities that received first prizes, the 19 universities that received second prizes, and the 32 universities that received third prizes. Individual awards were also presented, including Best Style, Best Proposition, Best Opposition, Best Commentary, and Best Judge awards, among others. Professor Jia Huanyu, Vice Dean (in charge of the work) of the School of Physical Science and Technology at Southwest Jiaotong University, delivered a speech of gratitude on behalf of the organizing unit. Subsequently, a solemn flag handover ceremony was held, and the competition flag was handed over to the organizing unit of CUPT 2024 - Shaanxi Normal University. Finally, Professor Jia Huanyu announced the conclusion of the competition.
Under the careful guidance of the competition executive committee and competition committee members, the fair and impartial judging by the judging teachers, the tenacious efforts of the participating students, and the diligent contributions of volunteer students, the 14th China University Physics Tournament achieved complete success.
