You might not think that Cheese has the Chemistry to foster togetherness, but the International Chemistry Olympiad thinks it does and with samplings of chocolate, too, is challenging this years’ participants to find solutions.
Some three hundred of them, along with coaches, educators and guardians are gathered in Zurich for the 55th International Chemistry Olympiad with its theme, “Finding Solutions for Togetherness.” and among them out little genius Saiesh Rampersad and his team.
So as we rout for Saiesh and wish him and his team success at the International Chemistry Olympiad which begins today, we might want to grab a block of chocolate to celebrate his qualification for the premium global youth Chemistry event. May the force be with you!
Representing Small Island Big Aspirations
It’s always a heavy weight to bear to represent among the smallest nation in any global forum, and as in this one, he comes up against some 300 of the world’s little geniuses, including the likes of US child prodigy who have the additional benefit of much better equipped, experienced and resourced education systems.
A prodigy in his own right, Saiesh blends natural aptitude with dedicated application. You may not know that he received perfect scores at the Associated Brands Royal School of Music theory exams, but you may recall that he topped the local SEA entrance examinations with perfect scores – the first boy then to do so. That set him on his part to secondary education at Presentation College.
A Reading Prodigy
He shot into the national limelight when, at just five years old, he bravely took to the stages at the launch of my book, LiTTscapes – Landscapes of Fiction, as an accomplished reader posing as Sir Vidia Naipaul’s iconic Mystic Masseur character to cheekily introduce ‘My Aunty Krissy” and again at the LiTTribute to the Republic with then first Lady Jean Ramjohn Richards. He was part of my team of youth hosts, hostesses and presenters meant to inspire next generations to explore the limits of the imagination.
Finding Solutions to Global Problems
In the same way LiTTscapes and its associated LiTTributes, LiTTours, LiTTeas and LiTTevents have been seeking solutions and connections to the developmental challenges confronting us, bridging gaps and silos in development across the Global South through intercultural edutainment, the International Chemistry Olympiad is seeking sustain able solutions to global dilemmas.
The chemists took time to explain their pun on ‘solutions’ to draw the connections between their solution’s based lab work with solvents and solutes as the molecular counterpart to our efforts in the developmental sphere as they seek chemical ‘solutions’ for the world’s most pressing problems.
No chemistry competition would be possible without the help of solutions, solutes, and solvents. At the same time, finding solutions to the challenges that affect our world is critical. With the support and innovation of passionate and dedicated young chemists, it will be possible to improve our quality of life and meet the challenges of our time and of the generations to come. – International Chemistry Olympiad
Five hour exams, lifelong experiences
Following an energetic opening ceremony where the Trinidad and Tobago flag waving featured prominently, the teams will face a five-hour practical exam today (July 19) and a theoretical exam on July 21. But the greater fun and lifelong experiences will be the field visits andexcursions.
Beyond the exams, the experience of engaging with peers and to be at one of the world’s premier research institutions in an environment that values, supports and reward learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and diversity and inclusion is sure to leave a lasting impression and raise aspirations to excel in his chosen field.
Smallest Island-Nation
Trinidad and Tobago entered the competition for the first time in 2019 through the efforts o fthe Department of Science and Technology at the University of the West Indies and the Trinidad and Tobago Chemical Society. Along with Cuba, the Latin American and Caribbean region sees representation from Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, San Salvador, Ecuador, Paraguay and Venezuela.
Other participation from the Americas by the giant nation blocks of the north, USA and Canada.
An Olympiad From 3 to 300
From three participating countries in its origins in Eastern Europe, now in its 55th year, the Chemistry Olympiad is host to some 90 countries and 300 youth participants under age 20. There has been a growing participation by countries of Latin America and The Caribbean and Asia,
The opening ceremony attempted to give quick non-chemical insights into the participating countries with a 15 seconds introduction through images.
Host of Cheese and Chocolates
It is the first time Switzerland, the land of cheese, chocolate, and yes, too, chemistry, is hosting the Olympiad.
The host of the event is the the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich – which would certainly be a mouthful to try and pronounce so you might want to just call it ETH Zurich Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
It ranks among the top 15 Universities in the world and boasts of contributing to the woks of some 10 Nobel prize winners of Chemistry.
Its partners are the D-?CHAB Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences of ETH Zurich SwissChO Swiss Chemistry Olympiad Association SO Association of Swiss Science Olympiads SCS Swiss Chemical Society
Outside the Box stimulating Research
The University prides it outside the box approach to scientific investigation and has seen it highlighting such themes as the importance of inclusion of emotional in rational analyses,
As in my own fascination with adapting the techniques of the classical long epic for new media through short film, the institute has been delving into its own experiments with the role of images in science and communication and indeed the laws of attraction, interpretation of beauty and surprise.
Current project as its Morph Games delve into the use of games to engage people to trust AI for everyay tasks.
Current exhibitions as the Art of Chemistry explores the co-relation mong chemistry, light spectrums and art – a fascinating field that has much promise in the spheres of information technology as well as in such expanding research fields of medical imaging, for example which interest has earned the University some of its Nobel Laurels.
An exhibition, Data Alchemy Observing Patterns from Galileo to Artificial Intelligence at the Collegium Helveticum point to such stimulants by bringing the perspectives of the arts and sciences. It presents a microscopic investigation into how AI, as humans, may be influenced by colour pigmentation and patterns in interpreting data and making predictions and forecasts colour pigmentation.
Stay tuned for more and find out about our own approaches for development solutions to global problems and
Let’s wish all the participants best of luck and may you make lifelong friendships and grow experiences to last a lifetime!
About Dr Kris Rampersad
Dr Kris Rampersad is an international development specialist carving small island solutions for global problems as an innovator in intercultural education for the digital age.