EXCLUSIVE Romanian Sandu Golcea peps up International Physics Olympiad syllabus

Timisoara Professor Sandu Golcea peps up the syllabus of the International Physics Olympiad, which he wants to be a driver for the progress of this competition intended for world-class student elites.

To this effect, Romania has already introduced in the high school curriculum chapters that present last generation physics concepts, clearly outdoing other developed countries.

Golcea presented this idea at the World Federation of Physics Competitions held recently in Singapore, enjoying the unanimous interest of the participants.

"Since we were attending the WFPhC, we suggested that the international syllabus should incorporate a segment encompassing modern physics elements, so that the Olympiad would become an engine for the other countries, which could adjust their curricula to the requirements of the syllabus of the International Olympiad," Professor Sandu Golcea told AGERPRES on Thursday.

At this Congress, Romania was represented by two physicists from Timisoara: Professor Madalin Bunoiu, vice-rector of the successfully competing in physics Olympiads and other such international contests.

"We presented a paper titled 'Modern physics and the approach thereof in schools and competitions' and we discussed about Romania having introduced as early as in 2007 in the 9th grade curriculum the study of the Chaos Theory and of the Theory of fractal geometry. This is years ahead of what is done in other countries. Except for China and Korea, no other developed country studies these subjects," said Golcea.

According to him, Romania pleaded for the International Physics Olympiad to "become a driver, not a trailer."

"The syllabus of the International Physics Olympiad has no longer been amended since 1980...