UK students win silver medals at 56th International Chemistry Olympiad

The 56^th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from Sunday 21 to Tuesday 30 July 2024. Four secondary school students, Kiran Desai-Kinvig, Pak Chuen (Patrick) Fung, Kotchapun (Perth) Saritsiri and Daniel Sexton represented the UK and all received silver medals.

Over 80 countries participated in the annual competition. The IChO’s scientific committee tested students on their chemistry knowledge and skills in a five-hour laboratory practical exam and a five-hour written theoretical exam, held on separate days.

The UK Chemistry Olympiad working group selected the highest-performing students to represent the team after completing Rounds one and two. During Round one, a record 14,915 students from 1025 schools sat the written exam. 27 students advanced to Round two of the competition, a long weekend of chemistry lectures, experiments and tests hosted at the University of Nottingham in April.

Once chosen, members of the Olympiad working group ran several online training sessions for the team. The students read books, such as Clayden’s Organic chemistry and Theory and problems for Chemistry Olympiad by Zhihan Nan, and completed past papers. Kiran, Patrick, Perth and Daniel also attended two intensive training camps in the run up to the IChO. Olympiad working group members led one at The National Mathematics and Science College over a long weekend in May. The other took place at UCL over a week in July. During the week, the team had theory and practical sessions which UCL’s teaching lab technical staff helped run successfully.

Competing on the global stage

With training complete, the team, led by mentors Ben Pilgrim, JL Kiappes, Ana Leonescu and Alex Thow, departed for Saudi Arabia. Three of this year’s team – Kiran, Patrick and Perth – also competed at the 55^th IChO. Kiran said, ‘It has been a huge honour and amazing experience to represent the UK at the IChO over the past two years. I want to say an enormous thank you to Ben, JL and all the other mentors.’

The mentors’ roles in the lead up to and at the annual final are varied and involve teamwork and thinking outside the box. Peter Bolgar and Oliver Evans (two members of the Olympiad working group) were also part of the IChO’s scientific committee and co-authors of one of the organic chemistry problems the students answered in the exam. Sophie Redman, education executive at the RSC, and head of education Mark Jordan said, ‘Thank you to all RSC colleagues involved and the Olympiad working group for their remarkable expertise and support, without which the UK Chemistry Olympiad and our participation at the IChO would not be such a success.’

The international competition brings together budding scientists from around the globe and Kiran said the IChO ‘has taught me an enormous amount, not only about chemistry but life in general. I think the ultimate highlight of the competition is meeting and making friends with like-minded chemists.’ Perth echoed this sentiment, sharing her highlight as spending time with people from other countries, building bonds and learning about their cultures.

After competing, the students saw their mentors again and received their medals. They enjoyed experiencing traditional Saudi performances, games and crafts too. JL said, ‘A highlight for me and the students was getting to participate in Saudi culture at the reunion party, where they provided traditional clothing (abayas, thobes, and shemaghs) for everyone attending.’

Congratulations to Kiran, Patrick, Perth and Daniel on their achievements and dedication!