CBC Bloem Learner among SA Team at International Chemistry Olympiad in Switzerland

by Admin · Published August 11, 2023 · Updated January 18, 2024

By Ikenna Ekwerike – One of only four learners who represented South Africa at the recently concluded 55^th International Chemistry Olympiad in Zurich, Switzerland, is a student of the Christian Brothers’ College, Bloemfontein.

Learners from 89 countries across the seven continents converged on ETH University, Zurich, a top ranking University globally, well-renowned for science, technology, engineering and mathematics to compete and showcase their knowledge of Chemistry from July 16-25.

Team South Africa was drawn from schools across the country. Team members were the top best four in Chemistry in an earlier national physical sciences Olympiad for Chemistry. They were Senthan Naicker, Crawford College, Pretoria; Faraaz Parker, Star College, Cape Town; Xu Weng, Christian Brothers’ College, Bloemfontein and Judd Symanovitz, Redhill School, Johannesburg.

Xu Weng, in an interview, gave a hint on the rigorous training and discipline that went into their preparations for the global event. He revealed that the team spent the last June school holidays at the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) for intensive Chemistry drills and experiments.

Weng regretted that the persisting electricity load-shedding in the country greatly hampered their preparation as certain crucial online training sessions could not be held. He, however, underscored the importance of investing much time and energy in studies as a sure secret to academic success.

Contingents took part in two separate tough exams on practical and theory of Chemistry. The practical exam consisted of three different experiments that were conducted in the ETH University laboratory; which is one of the most advanced Chemistry labs in the world.

Although team South Africa did not win medals at the event, the young chemists did definitely put South Africa and themselves on the global register of chemistry research.