Bandung – Physics is often perceived as a daunting subject filled with complex formulas. However, through the FUSION 2025 event, this stigma has been shattered. The national physics competition organised by the Physics Study Programme Student Association (HMPsFis) in collaboration with the Physics Study Programme, Faculty of Science, Parahyangan Catholic University (Unpar) has successfully created an exciting and enthusiastic competitive atmosphere.
More Than Just a Theoretical Competition
FUSION, an annual event organised by HMPFis UNPAR, aims to introduce physics as a fun and applicable science. The competition, held on 3 October 2025 and attended by 90 participants divided into 30 teams from schools in West Java and outside West Java, not only tested the academic abilities of the participants but also the creativity, innovation, and teamwork of each team.
Live Experiment and Science Market Rounds
FUSION 2025 was designed with various stages that tested important aspects of physics. The competition consisted of two rounds:
- Live Experiment Round: Participants worked on multiple-choice questions that tested their in-depth understanding of physics theory, and their answers were immediately verified through experiments.
- Science Market Round: In this round, participants are challenged to apply physics theories directly through experiments according to instructions provided by the event organisers and test their work in front of other participants. Each device assembled has its own price that must be purchased using ‘points’. In addition to building the conceptual framework of the device, participants are also assessed on how many ‘points’ they spend. The final assessment will be given to creations that are made efficiently and uniquely. This round often creates tension and excitement, as participants are required to think quickly and accurately under pressure.
The dynamic design of the competition, which combines theoretical tests and practical experiments, creates a competition that is different from other physics competitions. Participants are not only required to be good at memorising formulas, but also to be able to apply them and innovate well. The science market round is also designed to train participants’ problem-solving skills and build their character to be more resilient.
Physics in Motion Workshop
Physics in Motion Workshop
Not only did the participants compete, they also took part in interactive workshops specially designed with the theme ‘Physics in Motion’. This activity aimed to broaden their horizons by showing them that understanding physics is not just about memorising formulas, but also about seeing first-hand how these laws work in reality. Guided by Mr. Philips N. G., an experienced lecturer from the Physics Study Programme at UNPAR, the students conducted a series of experiments using simple tools. Through these hands-on experiments, abstract concepts such as acceleration, friction, and kinetic energy came to life and became easy to understand.
Learning Development Workshop for Teachers
Teacher Workshop Session with Ms. Christina
Teacher Workshop Session with Mr. Isaac Cornelius, CASIO
Not only students, but accompanying teachers also received special sessions designed to improve their competencies. These sessions took the form of innovative workshops on project-based physics and science learning and the effective use of CASIO calculators in learning. The background to these workshops was to develop teachers’ abilities in guiding project-based learning, which is considered more contextual and able to provide students with a deeper understanding. The workshop featured Ms. Christina Ester M.H., a lecturer at the UNPAR STEM Learning Study Centre, and Mr. Isaac Cornelius, a representative from CASIO, as speakers. Under the guidance of the speakers, the teachers were invited to dismantle their mindsets by being introduced to various forms of learning and a number of hands-on activities that were hoped to spark ideas in science learning. Through this workshop, it is hoped that teachers can present physics not as scary formulas, but as an exciting adventure to understand the phenomena around us.
Winners and Future Prospects
The Winner of FUSION 2025
At the end of the event, the winners of FUSION 2025 were announced:
- 1st Place: SMA Santo Aloysius 1 Bandung (Alexander Raven Fabian, Ferdinand Kurniawan, Sebastian Hugo Sethiosantoso).
- 2nd Place: SMA Trinitas (Stevan Adellardo Manurung, Calvien Carlton, Georgius Mikhael Pinem).
- 3rd Place: SMA Trinitas (Wynza Demetria Ongkowijoyo, Valerie Christabel Susanto, Lana Alexis Wangsamulia).
Through FUSION 2025, not only did it successfully attract the best young physics talents from West Java, but it also achieved its goal of building a new perception that physics is a fun, challenging science, full of opportunities for innovation to advance the nation. It is hoped that FUSION 2025 will also develop participants’ analytical skills and sharpen their reasoning abilities, as well as establish itself as one of the most prestigious and anticipated Physics competitions each year.
Thank you to all the participants and organisers involved. Congratulations to the winners!
See you at FUSION 2026!