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The Physics Students' Association of E\"otv\"os University, Budapest and the
Hungarian Association of Physics Students proudly announces the traditional, 
{\textbf{29th}}---and for the first time {\textbf{international}}---\\
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{\textbf{\large Rudolf Ortvay Problem Solving Contest in Physics,}} \\
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{\textbf{from October 30, 1998 through November 9, 1998.}}
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The Ortvay Contest is an old tradition at E\"otv\"os University. Many former 
contestants have become famous scientists and university professors, and they 
had showed their first marks of genius fighting with Ortvay-problems some 
years ago. 

For the first---hopefully not last---time, the contest is announced 
internationally in 1998, giving a good occasion for students of different 
universities and countries to cross their swords of knowledge, ingenuity, 
problem-solving skills and physical insight into problems that are far beyond 
routine-level. Although prizes are given only to individual participants, 
such an extensive contest also means a rivalry among the universities guiding 
the intellectual development of the contestants.

Every university student can participate in the Ortvay-contest. The name,
the university, the major, and the university year should be given. 

The problems of the contest come from different branches of theoretical
physics as well as applicational fields of physics. The assigned problems 
do not focus on school-level problem-solving routine but rather on the skills
of physical way of thinking, recognition of the heart of the problem, and the
appropriate choice in the mathematical armory. The majority of the assigned 
problems are original, few have been published in problem-books.

30 to 35 problems are assigned each year. These are of different levels of
difficulty, and every contestant can find problems appropriate to their 
university level. Each contestant can send solutions for 10 problems. For 
the solution of each problem 100 points can be given.

Any kind of reference may be consulted; textbooks and articles of journals 
can be cited. The contestants are kindly asked to present the solutions of 
different problems on different sheets. Computer programs appended to the
solutions can be enclosed on floppy disks, or sent via email to the address 
given below.

The problems can be downloaded from the webpage of the Ortvay contest
({\textbf{http://ludens.elte.hu/ortvay}}) in Hungarian and English 
languages, in html and \LaTeX{} formats from 12 o'clock (Central European 
Time), Friday, October 30, 1998. On preliminary requests sent to 
{\textbf{dgy@ludens.elte.hu}}, the problems will be sent via email, too. 

If an institute were to be represented by several contestants, the 
voluntary application of a teacher or a student for being a local organizer
would be most welcome before 27 October at the above address. Her/His task 
would be to advertise the contest well in advance, as well as to copy the 
problems sent before noon on the 30th, and to distribute them at 12 o'clock. 
On 9 November he/she is asked to collect the solutions of the students of
the institute and to post them to the referees. \\
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\leftline{\textbf{Deadline} for sending the solutions: 12 o'clock (CET), 
9 November, 1998.}
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Solutions can be sent by mail, fax, or email to: \\
Postal address: Fizikus Di\'akk\"or, D\'avid Gyula, ELTE TTK
Hallgat\'oi Iroda, G\'olyav\'ar, 1088 Budapest, M\'uzeum krt. 6-8. \\
Fax: D\'avid Gyula, 36-1-2662556 \\
Email: dgy@ludens.elte.hu --- the solutions should be sent in \LaTeX{} 
format.

The contest will be evaluated separately for each university year, according
to the total number of points. The referees reserve the right to withhold 
or to share some prizes. Beyond the money prizes given for the first, 
second, and third places, honourable mentions and special prizes for the 
oustanding solutions of individual problems can be awarded. This is why it
is worthwhile sending even one or two solutions.

The traditional sponsors of the contest are the Students' Foundation of the
Faculty of Sciences of E\"otv\"os University, and the Roland E\"otv\"os
Physical Society. Their help is highly acknowledged.

The announcement of the results will take place on 3 December. The detailed 
result will be available on the webpage of the contest thereafter. Diplomas 
and money prizes will be sent by mail.
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\emph{You are kindly asked to distribute the above information in your 
institute. Please prepare a placard, put the info to the webpages, newsgroups and
mailing lists frequented by the physically-inclined students. It would be a 
great pleasure to have many participants of many countries in the first
international Ortvay contest.}
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\leftline{Wishing a successful contest, rich and useful problem-solving 
to all our contestants,}
\leftline{on behalf of the organizing committee,}
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\rightline{\hbox to 8cm{\hfill D\'avid Gyula\hfill}}
\rightline{\hbox to 8cm{\hfill Physcics Students' Association of E\"otv\"os 
University\hfill}}
\rightline{\hbox to 8cm{\hfill dgy@ludens.elte.hu\hfill}}
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