“I need more paper!” – the request rose above the background buzz and the constant sound of pencils on paper. All around, calculators, scrap paper and formulas occupied the tables, creating an atmosphere of concentration mixed with the excitement of those eager to solve the next problem. On 7 November, the Técnico Innovation Center powered by Fidelidade welcomed more than 350 students from across the country for the first edition of Náboj Physics in Portugal. Instituto Superior Técnico, through its Department of Physics, joined the organisation team of this initiative, which tests quick thinking and teamwork.
Divided into teams of five, the students competed in two categories – Junior and Senior – and had 120 minutes to solve 40 problems. As the clock ticked down, the buzz grew, the rush at the markers’ table intensified, and the teachers watched attentively, giving final instructions: “Stay focused!” could be heard between the exchange of sheets and the recalculation of problems.
Before the start of the competition, the president of Técnico, Rogério Colaço, addressed the participants with a motivational message. “Many of you got up at five in the morning to be here, and you are proof that the effort is worth it”, he said. “After 35 years as a professor, it still moves me to see this willingness to learn. This is only possible thanks to the teachers who guide you and teach you to look at subjects in a different way. In a perhaps utopian wish, I hope that everyone wins at the end of this day”.
Among dozens of competing teams, the José Afonso Secondary School, in Loures, competed in the Senior category, with the national physics exam on the horizon. “We have exams this year, so this competition is good preparation”, explained Santiago, a 11th-grade student, as he reviewed his calculations with his classmates. “We’ll be back again next year”, he said.
Margarida and Maria, students at Martins Sarmento Secondary School in Guimarães, made their debut at Náboj. “We tried to get organised right from the start and solve problems as much as we could”. Around the table, the group alternated between silent concentration and rapid exchanges of ideas, keeping pace with the challenges presented.
Colégio Moderno (Lisbon) also participated in the competition with a team of 9th graders, motivated by their love of the subject. “I like to understand how things work, and physics explains a lot of what we see around us”, said one of the students. “Teamwork helped to unlock some of the more difficult problems”, the team highlighted.
St. Peter’s International School (Palmela) returned to Técnico after having participated in Nájob Mathematics in March. “This is a very comprehensive competition. It makes us think differently and manage our time well”, shared Guilherme, who hopes to return to Técnico in the future, to study Engineering Physics.
For two hours, concentration remained unbroken. In the final minutes, the sounds in the room grew louder: pages being turned, hurried explanations and quick footsteps towards the examiners’ table. When the time was up, the atmosphere transformed into applause and smiles, signaling a shared effort among participants.
At the end of the afternoon, the winning schools at the national level were announced. In the Junior category, the 1st place went to Escola Salesianos do Estoril, followed by Colégio de São José Ramalhão (Sintra), in 2nd place, and Escola Secundária Infanta D. Maria, in 3rd place. In the Senior category, Colégio Efanor ranked 1st, followed by Escola Secundária Infanta D. Maria (Coimbra), and Escola Secundária Martins Sarmento. The best national teams achieved 110th place in the Junior category and 63rd place in the Senior category globally.
Náboj Physics took place simultaneously in several countries – Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and Ukraine – allowing participants to compare their performance with that of teams from different contexts. Since 2015, this international competition has provided students the opportunity to assess their knowledge and skills in a comparative context, while maintaining a focus on local evaluation and the importance of teamwork.
The full list of winners is available here.
