Ukrainian high school students to participate in the 46th International Chemistry Olympiad with support from OSTCHEM

Four Ukrainian high school students represent Ukraine in the 46th International Chemistry Olympiad taking place in Hanoi (Vietnam) on 20-29 July 2014. This year, 291 pupils from 75 countries compete in the most prestigious chemistry contest. Ukrainian team participates in the Olympiad with support from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. For a third year in a row OSTCHEM holding, consolidating Group DF’s mineral fertilizer producers, supports the Ukraine’s team. 

“We have very talented children in Ukraine. They long for knowledge and are willing to work hard on themselves. Generally, they just need support. Fortunately, big chemical companies support our young chemists. Owing to this they have a chance to prove that our chemical industry has future,” said Kostyantyn Gavrilenko, Senior Researcher of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the curator of Ukrainian pupil’s team, who accompanies them in the International Chemistry Olympiad. “Today Ukrainian pupils will be tested in the practical tour of the competition. On Friday they will have to demonstrate their theoretical knowledge. I see that the opportunity to take part in such a high-level competition gives enthusiasm and longing for victory to our boys,” he added.

In 2014, pupils from Kyiv and Lviv gained the right to represent Ukraine in the International Chemistry Olympiad. They are already proven winners of previous international competitions. In particular, Khrystofor Khokhlov, a pupil of Kyiv Natural Sciences Lyceum #145, has become a member of Ukrainian team not for the first time. In 2013, he won a bronze medal in the 45th International Chemistry Olympiad. Roman Didenko, a pupil of ‘Podil’ Kyiv lyceum #100, as well as Oleg Gordiychuk and Vladyslav Neshta, high-school students of Lviv Physics and Mathematics Lyceum, are the winners of the last year’s International Mendeleev Olympiad. Selection of Ukrainian team members was held after the All-Ukrainian Chemistry Olympiad which took place in Vinnytsia in March 2014 and gathered 146 participants from all Ukrainian regions.

“We think about the future of Ukraine, and we lay the foundations for this now. By supporting young Ukrainian chemists we aim to promote the country on the global stage. Moreover, we aim to resolve the problem with a lack of human resources – one of the most important issues for Ukraine’s chemicals industry,” explained Oleksandr Khalin, General Director of OSTCHEM. “Our pupils have become the winners of high-level competitions more than once, and thus proved that we have powerful scientific potential for development of the domestic chemicals industry. That’s why we will continue to support development of talented children as well as creating conditions for them to realize their talents for the benefit of our homeland,” he added.

Since 2011, OSTCHEM has been implementing the ‘Support of School Chemical Education’ programme in Ukraine which represents one of the priority directions in the Corporate Responsibility of Group DF. As part of this programme, in 2012, the company supported Ukraine’s national team in the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad in Washington, D.C. (USA) where Ukraine’s team entered finished in the top-10. In Moscow in July 2013, in our team improved on that by entering the top-five.

OSTCHEM consistently supports Ukrainian Chemistry Olympiads among high school students. Moreover, the company sponsors English courses and awards special prizes for competition winners, while their teachers receive special scholarships, and schools receive chemical equipment and reagents. Furthermore, OSTCHEM initiated establishment of specialised Industry Council under the All-Ukrainian Industrial Association of Employer Organizations in the Chemicals Industry which will develop professional standards for education of the chemicals industry specialists.

NOTE

The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) is an annual competition among high school students – winners of national Chemistry Olympiads. According to the IChO rules, its main purpose is development of international contacts in chemistry. The Olympiad has been established to generate interest among students interested in chemistry through independent and creative exercises. The IChO helps to develop friendly relations among young people from different countries and encourages international cooperation and understanding. National teams of all countries include 4 students and 2 curators (mentors).