AUCKLAND, NZ — In July 2027, Aotearoa New Zealand will
take centre stage as the New Zealand Young Physicists’
Trust (NZYPT) hosts the 40th International Young
Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT) at the University of
Auckland’s City Campus.
Often referred to as the
‘World Cup of Physics’, this prestigious global event
brings together nearly two hundred of the brightest young
minds from thirty six countries to present and defending
their research into complex natural phenomena.
To
celebrate this once-in-a-generation occasion, the NZYPT is
launching a nationwide competition for Year 11 to Year 13
high school students across New Zealand to design the
official “Tournament Logo”. The competition, called
“FUSION”, is to design the emblem that will be the
visual identity of IYPT 2027 on medals, media, and global
advertising: a fusion of the IYPT, physics and Aotearoa New
Zealand.
Entering FUSION requires no knowledge of
physics. Only a vision that captures the spirit of the
tournament and the unique culture of the host city,
Auckland. The Trust believes that because the tournament is
for students, this identity should be created by students,
inspiring careers in the design and branding
sectors.
“We want to inspire the young Kiwi
designers by giving them a real-world brief with global
impact,” says Gavin Jennings, Head of Physics at Auckland
Grammar School, and chair of the New Zealand Young
Physicists’ Trust. “In much the same way as IYPT
inspires STEM careers through actual research and problem
solving.”
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The Trust has assembled a powerhouse panel
of volunteer judges from across kiwi creative industries.
Sam Allan, founder of the award-winning Onfire Design; Jerry
Kung, a senior animator and supervisor at WetaFX and noted
Auckland artist Anita Madhav.
Entry to the design
tournament is free. Students can download the information
pack containing a comprehensive brief at the Trust website,
iypt.org.nz. In a nod to the
modern design landscape, the Trust is allowing students to
use any medium and technique they choose — from pencil and
paper to AI — provided the final result is an original
work that encapsulates the energy of Auckland, the spirit of
friendly competition and physics.
Students will have
just over four weeks to perfect their designs, submitting
the electronically by 29th May. Each entry must include a
high-resolution file of the logo and a supporting document
explaining the rationale behind the design. The judges will
shortlist entries to five finalists based on originality,
usability, and how well the work represents the host
city.
Each of the five finalists will win a prize of
art supplies. The ultimate winner will be chosen after the
finalists meet online with the judges to explain their
inspiration and design intentions. The winner’s prize is
the attributed global use of their design and an all
expenses paid day spent with Onfire Design learning about
the design industry first hand.
The winner and their
design will be announced on June 29th before this year’s
New Zealand representative team goes to Zurich, Switzerland
to compete in IYPT 2026. There the Trust will reveal next
year’s tournament logo to the 40 IYPT member country
representatives as IYPT 2026 hands over to IYPT
2027.
The logo will be used on IYPT2027 online
publicity and information f IYPT 2027 as well as signage and
merchandise for the event. I will also play a critical role
in the Trust’s fundraising strategy. This September the
Trust will launch a crowdfunding campaign featuring a
massive photo mosaic of the winning logo where contributors
purchase tiles. “It’s a bit sponsoring bricks in the
wall of a new school building,” said Jennings. “It is a
way for smaller businesses and individuals to support IYPT
alongside larger commercial sponsors. We will also celebrate
our Alumni, their parents and our long-time supporters in
the mosaic by gifting them tiles.” The finished mosaic
will be revealed at the Tournament’s opening ceremony at
the University of Auckland on July 6th, 2027.
Key
details
•40th Anniversary IYPT hosted
in Auckland 5th to 12th July
2027.
•FUSION competition entry
deadline: 29th May 2026
•Submission
requirements: high-resolution logo file plus a supporting
document explaining the design
rationale
•Information pack and brief
via Trust’s website: iypt.org.nz
About the
Trust: The New Zealand Young Physicists’ Trust is a 100%
volunteer-run, NZ registered charity , CC6249. It uses IYPT
to promote high school physics as an essential discipline
for so many STEM careers. As the IYPT representative
organisation in New Zealand, it organises workshops, a
national school competition, and takes a Kiwi representative
team to the annual IYPT.
The Trust sees IYPT Auckland
2027 as a vital platform to showcase Kiwi STEM opportunities
to nearly two hundred of the worlds brightest high school
physicists while raising the tournament’s profile. IYPT
2027 will be a springboard for growing participation in this
unique research-based competition that has won medals in
thirteen of sixteen appearances and produced five Prime
Minister’s Future Scientist Prize
winners.