Empowering Future Chemists: IChO and IUPAC Work together to Inspire New Chemistry Vocations

IUPAC is a long-standing partner of IChO. In 2007, the two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). IUPAC provides some financial support to enable the participation of students from low-income countries and to contribute to the promotion of IChO’s goals and activities. The MoU was renewed in May 2022 which ensures the continuation of the strong partnership between these two international chemistry organizations that share not only their commitment to inspiring and empowering young students, but also their passion for chemistry, education, and international cooperation.

During the first two days of IChO 2023, the students explored the beautiful city of Zurich and the ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), where the exams were held. The initial shyness on the first day vanished as the participants engaged in enjoyable activities together. The environment in the student hotel was also lively. The building’s clubhouse was packed with people chatting, playing games and, of course, solving chemistry problems! The exams lived up to their reputation of being challenging, leading to high nerves before the first exam. The competition included a total of 5 hours of practical lab exercises and 5 hours of theoretical problems, covering various topics from organic chemistry to physical chemistry. A real chemistry marathon over two days that required all participants to give their best.

Some of the students who took part in the IChO 2023 and IUPAC President, Prof. Javier García Martínez, during the visit to Lucerne.

For the participants, IChO 2023 was a unique opportunity to make new friends that share their passion for chemistry and discover new places in Switzerland. Carmen Fuentes Campos, a student from Sevilla, Spain, was very positive about the Olympiad: “As an IChO participant, this experience has not only allowed me to test myself by putting my knowledge into practice in the different tests, but also to realize how much I still have to learn. This has really increased my interest to get to the deepest and most complex part of chemistry and to become a researcher in the future to go as far as possible. It was a life-changing experience that many of these students will never forget.”

The IChO 2023 was possible through the efforts of 300 volunteers, including team guides, mentor guides, exam authors, scientific assistants, and the members of the scientific committee. They were always recognizable by their colourful T-shirts. These volunteers embodied the best part of the IChO: generosity and hope for the next generation of chemists. They skilfully managed and maintained a tight schedule throughout the 10-day event, which is no small feat when coordinating over 600 people, while the scientific committee not only put together the exams, but also managed to correct them in record time.

In addition to the exams, the participants had the opportunity to explore the country during the weekend. On Saturday, they visited Lonza in Visp, where they learned how chemistry helps to improve our daily health. In the afternoon, they went on an exciting self-guided tour of Bern. As you would expect in Switzerland, there was also a chocolate tasting on the train between Visp and Bern. A delicious trip! On Sunday, they visited Lucerne, crossed the lake by boat, and climbed Mount Rigi for a spectacular view. There, IUPAC President Javier García Martínez addressed all participants, telling them how they can help create some of the solutions we need to address our most pressing challenges, and how we at IUPAC are working to provide the chemistry community with the resources, data, and standardized methods to accelerate chemical discovery, improve chemistry education, and make science more impactful, useful, and inclusive.

On Monday, 24 July, the Tonhalle concert hall in Zurich was filled with hundreds of students eager to find out if they would be awarded one of the 2023 IChO medals. A wave of excitement and friendship filled the air as national flags flew in the recently restored hall. It was clear to all in attendance who heard the shouts of support for the medallists that friendship, not competition, was the star of the IChO 2023 Closing Ceremony. For those who received a gold medal, IUPAC President Javier García Martínez presented them with a signed IUPAC Periodic Table, which they will surely treasure for years to come.

IChO 2023 Closing Ceremony at the Tonhalle Concert Hall; gold medalists fly their flags as all participants show their support.

IUPAC and the International Chemistry Olympiad have joined forces to promote new vocations in chemistry. The importance of this mission cannot be overstated. By promoting excellence and recognizing talented students, the IChO inspires the next generation of chemists to pursue careers in this vital scientific field. Encouraging young people to explore and embrace chemistry is paramount, as it lays the foundation for future discoveries and innovations that can address pressing global challenges ranging from sustainable energy solutions to environmental protection and medical breakthroughs. The combined efforts of IUPAC and IChO contribute significantly to the advancement of chemistry and its critical role in shaping a better and more sustainable world for generations to come. Let’s meet again at the 56th International Chemistry Olympiad in Ryad, Saudi Arabia, in July 2024.

https://www.icho2023.ch/

Report prepared by Víctor Sabanza <victor.sabanzagil@epfl.ch> a PhD candidate at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and a volunteer during the IChO 2023 in Zürich.