APCTP Connects Asia’s Next Generation of Scientists with Korea's Research Frontiers

– APhO-linked program highlights global collaboration and basic science talent development –

The Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics (APCTP) is hosting a basic science research experience program in connection with the 2026 Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO) this May for young scientists and faculty leaders from across Asia and Oceania.

Organized in collaboration with the Korean Physical Society and POSTECH, the program connects an international science competition with Korea’s leading research institutions, offering participants direct exposure to world-class research environments and advanced basic science infrastructure.

APCTP has established itself as a leading basic science platform in the Asia-Pacific region through sustained international research collaboration and the cultivation of early-career researchers from Korea and abroad. Through its global network spanning Asia, Europe, and the Americas, the Center continues to promote international collaborative research and next-generation scientific talent development. Built on this foundation, the program is expected to serve as a platform for future scientific collaboration linking global young scientists with Korea’s research community.

The Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO) is one of the region’s representative international science competitions, bringing together talented high school students to compete in theoretical and experimental physics while promoting scientific exchange and cooperation across Asia and Oceania. Under the theme “Asian Young Scientists Opening the Future of Quantum Science and Technology,” the 2026 competition takes place in Busan from May 17 to 25.

The APCTP program welcomes approximately 240 students and 120 faculty leaders from around 30 countries. Participants visit the POSTECH campus and physics laboratories, the Cheongam Academic Center, the third- and fourth-generation synchrotron radiation facilities at Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, and advanced research facilities at the National Nanofab Center, gaining firsthand experience with Korea’s cutting-edge research infrastructure.

The program also features lectures by internationally renowned scholars and Korean researchers. Taekjip Ha of Harvard University delivers a lecture on single-molecule biophysics research, while Young Jun Choi of POSTECH speaks on twisted graphene-based quantum materials and superconductivity. Choi, the overall winner of the 38th International Physics Olympiad in 2007, adds particular significance to the program as both a former Olympiad participant and a current researcher in the field.

“As APCTP marks its 30th anniversary, we continue to expand an international research environment where the next generation of scientific talent can grow and collaborate,” says Misao Sasaki, President of APCTP. “We hope this program further strengthens scientific exchange and cooperation among young scientists across the Asia-Pacific region.”

Established in 1996 on the occasion of the APEC meeting, APCTP is Korea’s only international center for theoretical physics. Based at POSTECH in Pohang, the Center works with 20 member countries and 37 partner institutions across the Asia-Pacific region. Through collaborative research, academic exchange, and public science outreach, APCTP continues to contribute to the advancement of basic science and international scientific cooperation.