Build54 Undergraduate Prize in Physics 2025

Africa's technological advancement requires breakthrough physics research that addresses fundamental challenges: developing quantum computing capabilities for complex optimization in logistics and finance, advancing renewable energy physics to harness abundant solar and wind resources, creating new materials for everything from construction to electronics, understanding complex systems through computational physics, and improving communications through photonics. 

Students must demonstrate how advanced physics concepts in quantum mechanics, materials science, renewable energy, computational modeling, or photonics can create solutions for energy access, communications infrastructure, industrial development, or scientific computing while considering the practical constraints of implementing advanced physics research in African contexts.

The Best Undergraduate Final Year Project in Physics celebrates exceptional physics research and applications from Africa's brightest young physicists. This challenge seeks projects that demonstrate deep understanding of physical principles while applying them to solve real-world challenges through theoretical insights, computational modeling, or experimental innovation.

We welcome projects in quantum computing and quantum information, renewable energy physics and energy storage, materials science for new technologies, computational physics for complex systems, photonics and optical communications, and applied physics for medical or industrial applications. Projects should showcase strong theoretical foundation, rigorous mathematical analysis, and practical applications.

Successful projects will demonstrate mastery of advanced physics concepts, innovative experimental or computational approaches, and clear connections to technological advancement. Whether you're developing quantum algorithms for optimization problems, designing new materials for solar cells, creating computational models for climate systems, or building photonic devices for communications, we want to see physics driving innovation.

Projects should consider how fundamental physics research can address African technological needs, from improving telecommunications infrastructure to advancing renewable energy adoption. We particularly value work that bridges the gap between theoretical physics and practical engineering applications.