Participate in Team USA Selection
Students interested in competing for Team USA should contact US IYPT using the Contact link at the top of this page or through Instagram at @iypt_usa.
Once we know you are competing, we can provide resources and support to help you be successful. Students must have a local mentor or teaching professional who can help ensure their safety during experiments and provide guidance on the physics.
1. Select one of the 2027 IYPT problems and let us know that you intend to participate. We encourage students to tell us which problem they are researching so that we can let them know when many other students are already working on the same problem.
2. Submit a first draft of your research slides and a brief explanation video of less than 10 minutes for one problem no later than midnight January 18, 2027. Submission instructions will be provided to participating students.
3. Our team of college professors will evaluate the first-round submissions. Every student who submits work will receive detailed feedback identifying both the strengths of the submission and specific areas for improvement.
4. The strongest reports will be selected as finalists for consideration for the National Team traveling to Auckland, New Zealand for IYPT 2027. Finalists will receive concrete recommendations for improving their research and making their reports tournament ready.
5. Finalists will submit their improved final report and a 12-minute video presentation by midnight February 26, 2027.
6. The national selection board, composed of college professors, former IYPT jurors, and former team leaders, will evaluate the final submissions.
7. Students under consideration for the National Team will participate in an interview with members of the selection board to discuss their research. Following these interviews, the five members of Team USA will be selected.
8. Students selected for Team USA will complete an additional IYPT problem before the tournament in July. Information about selecting the second problem will be provided during the selection interviews or upon request.
9. Applicants may work individually or as part of a group of students. However, only one student may submit the work for a particular problem for consideration for Team USA.
Selecting a Problem
Most important to us is that you have a good experience, and selecting the right problem is an important first step. Ideally, every student would select a problem they find exciting and our strongest students would all choose different problems.
Please let us know which problem you have selected. We will not force you to choose a particular problem, but we will let you know if many other students are already researching the same problem.
Student Support with Research
Every month, US IYPT will arrange several 30-minute video conference opportunities with subject-matter experts to help students with their research.
We can also help students locate academic research and provide guidance on experimental design, physics, data analysis, and developing a successful IYPT report. Meetings will be available by appointment on a first-come, first-served basis.
Cost of Participation
We are actively fundraising for Team USA 2027. Our worst-case estimate, assuming no fundraising support, is approximately $5,000 per student.
We expect fundraising to reduce that amount. Students and families who indicate an interest in participating will be kept informed about our fundraising progress and expected student costs.
Estimated Travel
The 2027 International Young Physicists' Tournament will take place in Auckland, New Zealand. We plan to arrive early enough for students to adjust to the time change before competition begins. Exact travel arrangements remain subject to change.
- Pre-Tournament Bootcamp: Arrive in Philadelphia June 30
- Depart for Auckland: July 2
- Tournament Dates: July 5 – July 12
- Return: Depart Auckland following the tournament on July 12