Volunteer Judges (aka Jurors)
The tournament cannot run without judges, usually called jurors in IYPT tournament jargon.
The task – NZ national tournament
Jurors are asked to watch and mark three physics matches, each lasting about 90 minutes at NZYPT. The format and timing is quite strict and you need to enforce time limits. Marking is against a rubric. You mark both teams, the presentation and the opposition. The format of a physics match is here including the format and the timings for each step.
Jurors will be needed between 9am and 4:30pm although you are also most welcome at the welcome and prized giving ceremonies either side of that. We can’t pay you, but we will feed you.
Juror qualifications
The physics presented is likely to be new to you. There are no answers in the back of the book! It can be rocket science (literally in 2025 with a water rocket problem), but it should be well explained and derived from standard physics concepts like forces. There is no need to read up on the seven problems before the tournament. Many marks are for clearly explaining both the problem and the physics used to design the experiments.
Jurors need to be able to follow the physics research presented. Being a physics teacher, postgrad student or academic is good. However we find that all sorts of engineers, geophysicists, medical imagers, data modellers and other professionals do really, really well. Often they have a far better appreciation of problem solving and other practical elements. We’ve even had industrial chemists as judges – it’s that scientific thinking and method appreciation that we need.
Inexperienced jurors are always on a jury panel with experienced judges and teachers. We do not throw people in at the deep end!
We are always delighted to welcome Tournament Alumni studying Physics and other physics dependent undergraduate degrees as new jurors.
Still Interested?
We hope so. But if your not sure yet there is an online session to explain the role in more detail and answer your questions. This is still to be scheduled by is usually a week or two before the Tournament itself.
To get invited to the online event please complete a short expression of interest form here, and we will be in touch