Physics students excel at national competition

Raihan Cheru Kattil and Harsh Vardhan represented the University with distinction at the event, which attracts many of the UK’s top undergraduate and Master’s-level physics students, predominantly from Russell Group universities. Their strong performance is particularly impressive given they competed as second year undergraduate students.

Physics League Across Numerous Countries for Kick-Ass Students (PLANCKS) is an international physics competition for undergraduate and Master’s students. Held annually as a three-day conference, the event combines a demanding team-based exam with opportunities to attend engaging scientific talks, network with fellow physicists, and explore the culture of the host location. The competition is organised by the International Association of Physics Students (IAPS). 

Raihan said: “The best part of the competition was meeting so many like-minded people who share the same passion for physics. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the wider physics community in the UK and to see where I fit into it. I would go again next year.” 

The University of Chester students, who formed Composite Team 1 and competed against Master’s students from the likes of Oxford, Imperial College, Trinity College Dublin and Cambridge, said they were particularly grateful for the support offered by the School of Natural Sciences towards their travel expenses to Kent. They are already planning to compete again next year, aiming for a higher position in the rankings. 

Theodoros Papadopoulos, Associate Professor of Physics at the School of Natural Sciences of the University of Chester said: “We are incredibly proud of Raihan and Harsh for their achievement, which highlights both their academic ability and their enthusiasm for engaging with the wider physics community. Congratulations to both students on an excellent result.”