How it works:
Every year, around 800 apprentices and high school students solve the first test of the Chemistry Olympiad. The most successful students, will attend theoretical and practical courses at the University of Basel, EPF Lausanne, the University of Berne and the University of Zurich. The grand finale follows at ETH Zurich. The Bunsen burners flicker, the participants synthesise various compounds and take their first steps as researchers. The four brightest among them will attend the International Chemistry Olympiad - in Dubai, Azerbaijan or Taiwan.
The competition is by far not our only defining feature: «I liked meeting more people who are interested in chemistry best. Everyone was really nice.», explains Mireya. Even the former participant Wendelin Stark - appointed as professor of chemistry in the meantime - says in retrospect: «The most valuable thing I was able to take away from participating were the friendships».
We are a motivated and young team of approximately 50 volunteers. Most of us are students, although we are also supported by older and more experienced volunteers, who support us in the background such as Maurice Cosandey, who founded the Olympiad 40 years ago in the Suisse Romande. Many of us have participated in the Olympiad ourselves - and now it is our job to pass on the fascination of Chemistry onto the younger generation.
This is why we’re unique:
Meaningful educational content that complements school: We educate young talents by going further than what is taught in school. We offer gifted students a place to learn as well as a network with like-minded people. This is important because parents and schools often lack the resources to nurture these specific talents. Gifted minds can also be socially isolated.
We engage adolescents to care for a sustainable future: Renewable energy sources to fight climate change, medicines to fight disease… Chemistry has a lot of solutions for practical problems. «Chemistry can help for example to find new energy storage technologies», explains participant Ethan. He loves the subject for its diversity. We raise awareness of these issues throughout the competition and prepare the students for the future. Peer-to-peer interactions promote learning and motivation: For us, learning from and together with peers is the central focus of the competition. The participants learn from each other by helping each other during the Olympiad or from the friendships that are forged. They also learn from volunteers who are barely older than the participants and function as tutors. This setting differentiates us from conventional education in school.
This is why we need your support:
We are organised as an association and work as volunteers. To keep participation at the Olympiad free - to make it available to every young person - we need resources for travel, catering and overnight accommodation costs for our events.
Currently, we are supported by the federal government, foundations and the private sector - without their support this would not be possible. This is the first time that we seek the support from individuals. As we are certain that our mission - the fostering of curious young minds - does not only concern institutions, but also you, as a human being.
Your support helps us:
- that Milan from Andelfingen can participate in the workshops at EPFL for free
- that Taari, Leandra and Angélique from the Romandie may sleep well in a youth hostel during the final week
- that Jingyao and Vanessa can eat plenty and well, as the appetite of the participants is big both for knowledge and food
- that the volunteers who give their very best during the events may be reimbursed for their expenses. This is a form of appreciation for their voluntary work.
