The Annual Physics Poster Competition IV (APPC-IV), organized by the Department of Physics at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), continues its role as a premier national platform for undergraduate and graduate students to present their research in physics and related disciplines.
Building on the success of APPC-I, APPC-II, and APPC-III, this fourth edition brings together emerging researchers from across Saudi Arabia to showcase their work, exchange ideas, and engage with faculty members, experts, and peers.
APPC-IV celebrates innovation, scientific excellence, and effective research communication. Through poster presentations, expert evaluation, awards, and networking opportunities, the event supports student development and contributes to the Kingdom’s research ecosystem in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

Event Details:
The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students (MS and PhD) from physics or related interdisciplinary fields.
Registration: Complete the official registration form before the deadline.
Abstract Submission: Clearly present research problem, methodology, findings, and significance.
8:30 AM to 4:00 PM | Poster displayed | Accepted posters will be displayed throughout the event day, allowing participants, judges, faculty members, and guests to view the research work and interact with presenters. | |
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Judging session |
| |
12:00 PM to 2:00 PM | Campus Tour / Networking Break
|
| |
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM | Plenary Talk
| A plenary talk by an invited speaker. | |
3:00 PM to 3:40 PM | Awards & Recognition Ceremony | Awards will be presented to winning undergraduate and graduate presenters. Certificates of participation and recognition may also be presented to participants, judges, and contributors. |
Awards:
APPC-IV will recognize outstanding student presenters through separate undergraduate and graduate award categories. Awards with prizes for first, second, and third place in each category according to KFUPM policy.
Graduate Students’ Awards: | Undergraduate Students’ Awards: |
|
|
All presenters will receive certificates of participation. Special recognition items featuring KFUPM and Department of Physics branding may also be provided. The final award method and distribution format will follow KFUPM policies and event guidelines.
Submission Form: https://forms.office.com/r/KcsKnrGJZT
Email: appc@kfupm.edu.sa
Phone: +966 13 860 2255
APPC-IV winners will be announced after the competition and added to this section following the Awards & Recognition Ceremony.
Graduate Students’ Winner Circle
| Position | Presenter | Co-authors | Affiliation(s) |
1st | To be announced | To be announced | To be announced |
2nd | To be announced | To be announced | To be announced |
| 3rd | To be announced | To be announced | To be announced |
Undergraduate Students’ Winner Circle
| Position | Presenter | Co-authors | Affiliation(s) |
1st | To be announced | To be announced | To be announced |
2nd | To be announced | To be announced | To be announced |
3rd | To be announced | To be announced | To be announced |
Photos from APPC-IV will be added to this section after the event. The gallery may include images of poster presentations, judging sessions, student interactions, campus activities, invited talks, and the awards ceremony.
Who can participate?
Both male and female undergraduate and graduate students, including MS and PhD students, may participate if they have conducted research in physics or a closely related field with a clear physics component.
Do undergraduate participants compete against graduate participants?
No. Undergraduate and graduate students compete in separate categories. Each category has its own awards, typically first, second, and third place.
Can postdocs or researchers participate?
APPC-IV is intended as a student poster competition. Postdoctoral fellows, researchers, supervisors, and faculty members are welcome to attend, mentor, and engage with participants, but student eligibility rules apply to presenters.
Will this be an individual or a team competition?
APPC is an individual presentation competition, meaning one student should be the registered presenter and should present the poster to the judges. The research may be part of a team project, and co-authors may be listed on the poster and registration form.
What is the meaning of corresponding author in the registration form?
The corresponding author is typically the research lead or primary contact for the project, such as the student’s supervisor, principal investigator, postdoctoral mentor, or senior graduate student. Students are encouraged to confirm this with their supervisor before submitting the registration form.
Is there a word limit for the abstract?
A specific word limit may be announced in the APPC-IV registration form. In all cases, participants are encouraged to keep abstracts concise, clear, and focused on the research objective, methods, results, and significance.
Can a student participate online?
APPC-IV is planned as an in-person event at the Department of Physics, KFUPM, Dhahran. Students should attend physically and present their posters during the assigned judging period.
Does the poster need to be on the topic of my own research?
Yes. The poster should focus on the student’s own research project. Background material from published literature may be used when it is properly cited and supports the explanation of the student’s work.
Can non-physics major students participate?
Yes. Students from other majors may participate if their poster topic is related to physics or uses physics principles, methods, modeling, measurements, or applications.
Does the competition evaluate only the poster, or also the presentation?
The competition evaluates both the poster and the student’s presentation. Judges will consider the scientific content, clarity, organization, visual design, presentation skills, communication, and the presenter’s ability to answer questions.
Can a student’s supervisor attend the event?
Yes. Supervisors and mentors are encouraged to attend. APPC-IV provides a valuable networking opportunity for students, faculty members, researchers, and university representatives from across Saudi Arabia.
How will posters be evaluated?
Posters will be evaluated based on relevance to physics, originality, scientific accuracy, research methodology, clarity of results, structure and organization, visual design, presentation engagement, communication skills, ability to answer questions, and overall quality of the poster and presentation.
When will APPC-IV winners be announced?
Winners will be announced during the Awards & Recognition Ceremony on the event day, unless the organizing committee announces a different schedule.
Will participants receive certificates?
Yes. All presenters are expected to receive certificates of participation, and winners will receive additional recognition according to the final APPC-IV awards plan.