Three Lira students head to Brazil for World Olympiad

_________________

Three students from St. Gracious Secondary School in Lira district are travelling to Brazil for a chemistry competition called the International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad.

The students Lukwago Patience Mwesigwa, Ruth Amono and Rosemary Auma are all in senior six pursuing Biology, Chemistry and Math (BCM) combination. The event kicks off on May 6 and ends on May 12 at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

“We are proud to be representing Uganda at such a huge international scale and we do take pride in that, “said a thrilled Matthew Ojok Anyuru, the Headteacher of St. Gracious SS.

“I believe that the girls are ready to compete because they have been well prepared at the school level,” he stated.

He explained that the selection of St. Gracious SS was based on its extremely impressive performance in Chemistry at UACE 2024. The selection of the students was based on internal competitions held at the school. The three representatives emerged as the overall winners.

The 59th International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad features a program designed to test and showcase the talents of young chemists from around the globe. The program includes an opening ceremony, briefings for mentors, two theoretical exams, a full-day excursion, a practical exam, arbitration, and a closing ceremony.

The Olympiad aims to unleash the potential of young chemists. It provides a platform for students to showcase their abilities and passion for chemistry.

It also connects students from various countries: Participants from 30+ countries come together to learn from each other and share their experiences.

Besides, it promotes chemistry education by inspiring and encouraging students to pursue careers in science and technology, according to the organisers.

The participating countries include Russia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Brazil, Hungary, Israel, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia, Mongolia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, and others.

The event is taking place in the year of Brazil’s presidency in BRICS - one of the largest integration associations in the world, whose priorities include sustainable development and the creation of a common educational space.

“The International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad (IMChO)—one of the world’s most prestigious competitions in chemistry—has played a key role in identifying and nurturing talented young minds in the field, which remains one of the central pillars of knowledge, “said Prof.Rossimiriam Freitas, the President of the Brazilian Association of Chemistry.