Ukrainian team won four silver medals at the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad, held in Baku (Azerbaijan). Our country was represented this year by graduates of the Podil Lyceum No. 100 in Kyiv Mykhailo and Mykola Pashko, graduate of Kharkiv’s Gymnasium No. 46 Andrii Malashchuk, and graduate of Comprehensive School No. 36, also located in Kharkiv, Oleksii Zhalevsky.
The chemistry olympiad is considered among the most difficult contests, for it includes extensive practical stage, which requires from its participants knowledge of the latest scientific achievements and ability to use the latest technology. The practical stage lasts five hours, during which time students have to perform three assignments. The olympiad includes theoretical stage as well, which sets eight assignments and has just as much time allocated.
This year’s International Chemistry Olympiad involved 290 participants from 75 countries. Our young chemists entered the Top 20 of the general team ranking.
COMMENTARY
Yurii KHOLIN, the team’s accompanying teacher, Doctor of Science in Chemistry, vice rector for research and educational work at Karazin National University of Kharkiv:
“The chemistry olympiad stands out among similar events due to its experimental stage. It is the hardest of all disciplines. Contemporary chemical labs are ultramodern combine works producing scientific knowledge. Therefore, students should be prepared not only to solve problems, but to work under these conditions as well. It is clear that teachers can only initiate the process of preparation, detect talented children, and then these students go on to work for universities and leading academic institutions to get acquainted with the best achievements of world science. At the moment, they are being trained by researchers from Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Karazin National University of Kharkiv, and the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences. These institutions employ winners of earlier competitions, who can provide useful advice, as well as experienced professors who know how to present one’s work correctly.
“We have entered the world’s Top 20 teams, which is a very good result, for the event was attended by teams from nations which lead the way in development of science. Understandably, our students find competing with the Chinese, Koreans, and Taiwanese very hard, but we have performed well overall. Chemistry plays a major role in the modern world. Most studies are now focused on human needs, I mean health and nutrition. These issues require serious research and development work. Chemistry is among sciences that have accompanied progress.”
