Quark Physics Program: University of Coimbra

I was one of approximately 40 students selected nationwide to participate in the Quark Physics Program, hosted by the Department of Physics at the University of Coimbra.

Over the course of 7 months, we attended monthly intensive weekend sessions in Coimbra with top professors and researchers from the university. The program explored advanced topics in modern and theoretical physics, far beyond high school curriculum, including quantum mechanics, relativity, and particle physics.

The goal of the initiative was to prepare students to represent Portugal in international physics competitions, such as the Ibero-American and International Physics Olympiads. It was a deeply enriching academic experience that shaped my early passion for science and research.

"From Coimbra to the world, through the internet and with the Physics Olympiads in mind... Quark! aims to promote physics among 11th and 12th-grade students, combining online resources and face-to-face sessions."
— Professor José António Paixão, founder of Quark!