DRF Welcomes Participants of the 2025 International Physics Olympiad
On July 22, the DRF (Fundamental Research Division of the CEA) opened its doors to nearly 80 students and mentors taking part in the 2025 International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). The visit offered these young “budding scientists” a chance to explore research laboratories and meet physicists passionate about sharing their work.
The IPhO, created in 1967, is an annual global competition bringing together high school and university students from over 80 countries. The 2025 edition, organized by the French Physical Society, was held at Université Paris-Saclay (École Polytechnique) from July 18–24, gathering around 400 participants.
As part of the event, the DRF welcomed the students to five laboratories at IRFU, IRAMIS, and LSCE, featuring presentations, lab tours, and discussions with researchers — including Willeum Boutu, a physicist at LIDYL specializing in attosecond laser physics and ultrafast light–matter interactions. He shared insights into his work and the latest advances in the field.
“It’s amazing to meet scientists in their own labs and talk so freely about their research,” said Adam from the French team.
Moritz, representing Luxembourg, added: “Visiting labs like LIDYL—linked to the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics—was a real highlight.”
When curiosity meets passion, inspiration follows. For many of these students, the visit may spark a future in science.
