The Spades Society’s premier annual event, Psi-Fi, returned for its eighth installment this year, making it one of the country’s longest lasting national science competitions. Promoted online and in schools as well as universities everywhere as an event which is #ConqueringNewRealms, the Olympiad lived up to its long-established reputation and its promise, attracting well more than a thousand delegates in total from schools and universities all over Pakistan.
For the duration of the 4-day Olympiad, held from 11th to 14th January 2017, delegates were provided accommodation in the safety and convenience of the LUMS campus, with amazing food and wonderful events. The competition consisted of 15 separate events, with perhaps the most popular and most participated ones being the quiz-based Tour de Mind, the Sherlockian-deduction styled Diagnosis Dilemma, the mediaeval war nod Siege, and the Macgyver-esque car race that was Gear Up.
In all the events nevertheless, participants demonstrated immense capacities for enthusiasm, creativity and teamwork, and continued unfailingly to impress Psi-Fi’s organisers and sponsors with their capabilities for scientific inquiry and method. Beyond that, however, the Psi-Fi team is proud to see a sustained fulfilment of its broader objective, which is to bring brilliant, scientifically inclined minds from all over the country together in an environment where they can not only challenge each other, but collaborate and start building lasting and productive friendships with like-minded people.
Psi-Fi was held in the best way possible with a rousing Carnival and concert set up for the delegates inside the LUMS campus, featuring the artist Raga Boyz and Noori and food stalls boasting signature Lahori treats like gol gappay and jalebis as well as a variety of games to help the delegates unwind after 4 days of grueling competition.
Psi-Fi drew to a close on the evening of the 14th with a blast: a wonderful formal dinner “The Forbidden Forest” as it was named.
