During the Easter holidays, we were delighted to welcome 24 Year 12 pupils to King’s College, Cambridge for a special residential event celebrating the top ten teams in our short video competition, What Lights Up Your Love of Physics?.
The standard this year was nothing short of incredible. From a team building their own quantum computer to an engaging explanation of Mars landers, the knowledge, creativity and enthusiasm was outstanding.
After screening each of the ten shortlisted videos, teams took to the stage to answer questions from our judging panel. The judges were hugely impressed by the pupils’ confidence, knowledge, and passion for physics.
After much deliberation, we were thrilled to announce our winner: Lily from The 6th Form College Farnborough. Congratulations to Lily, who will be visiting CERN this summer for a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the Large Hadron Collider.
Watch Lily’s winning video and explore all ten shortlisted entries here
Beyond the competition itself, the residential was truly inspiring, with attendees hearing from physicists at the brand-new Ray Dolby Centre, attending an admissions talk, and experiencing a formal dinner.
A huge thank you to our judges (Dr Kathryn O’Donnell, Emma Smart, Dr James Dolan, and Professor Sir Richard Friend), our compere Christina Astin, our sponsor Lascells Ltd, donor Damon de Laszlo CBE, and everyone at King’s College, Cambridge for hosting such a memorable and inspiring event.
What teachers and students are saying
Feedback highlights just how impactful the competition has been:
“Students gained so much confidence in presenting and researching their topic.” – Teacher
“The experience has been hugely motivational… raising aspirations and encouraging students to aim for top universities.” – Teacher
“Fantastic experience overall… a safe and supportive opportunity to share our enthusiasm for physics and build confidence answering questions on stage.” – Student
We are delighted to hear that winning schools are using their equipment funding to expand practical opportunities, from purchasing telescopes for astronomy clubs to investing in new lab equipment so more students can take part in hands-on physics.
This year’s residential made one thing clear: the future of physics is bright, ambitious, and full of curiosity. We can’t wait to see what next year brings!