This week from Monday to Thursday (23rd – 26th January 2017) the National Round of 53rd Chemistry Olympiad was held. The Olympiad is announced by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and organized by the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague. For the first time ever was the final of high school competition held directly at the premises of an industrial enterprise. The organizers placed the national round into the University Centre UCT on the site of Unipetrol’s petrochemical production plant in Litvinov.
A total of 47 best high school students from all regions of the Republic participated in the competition. The expert jury led by Petr Holzhauser evaluated both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the laboratory. The theme of the final round was catalysis, the process heading towards the acceleration of a certain chemical reaction by using a catalyst. Seventeen finalists will continue to fight for the opportunity to represent the Czech Republic at the International Chemistry Olympiad in Bangkok this July where only 4 best ones can fly.
In addition to theoretical and practical tasks, the four-day program was accompanied by many varied activities. The contestants visited the castle Hnevin, including an observatory, attended an excursion through Unipetrol’s plant in Zaluzi, s tour in the Chateau Valdstejn and the performance of Docela velké divadlo from Litvinov.
„As rector of the university focusing on engineering and natural sciences I am very pleased by the fact that year after year there’s a group of extremely talented and dedicated students who love chemistry. I see in them a generation that a few years from now will raise their voice and move our fascinating subject further,” says Karel Melzoch, rector of the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague.
„We are honored that we can host the best high-school chemists from all over the Czech Republic in Chempark Zaluzi. It’s the first time ever, the Chemistry Olympiad final is held inside a production plant. Only close collaboration between academic and corporate sector can ensure successful development of chemical branches and attract new students who will in the future become the driving force in the Czech chemistry in education, research and industry,“ adds Andrzej Modrzejewski, CEO of Unipetrol Group.
„I found the tasks easier than I expected but I was surprised by some questions of physical chemistry. I prefer rather theoretical tasks but it was great to work in new laboratories with clear glass,“ said Richard Veselý, 2nd year student who turned his first ever participation in the A category into victory.
Winner:
Category A – comprehensive schools (gymnázium)
1. Richard Veselý, Gymnázium Budějovická, Prague 4
2. Ondřej Malý, Gymnázium Jateční, Ústí nad Labem
3. Jiří Ledvinka, Gymnázium Opatov, Prague 4
Category E – secondary industrial schools
1. Vojtěch Musil, Střední průmyslová škola chemická Brno
2. Jiří Doležel, Střední průmyslová škola chemická, Brno
The announcer of Chemistry Olympiad is the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the authorized guarantor is then the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague which most of the competitors enter after finishing high school. The competition begins with home rounds continuing through district and regional rounds and the finalists then meet in the national round. Its winners represent the Czech Republic at the International Chemistry Olympiad. In 2018 it will take place in Prague and Bratislava celebrating its 50-year anniversary.
University Center UCT Prague – Unipetrol where the Olympiad’s national round took place is a joint project which was brought into operation in 2015. It is the first university in the Czech Republic which is located directly on the operational premises. Students from the local region can study at the top university here without even having to travel and leave their background and friends. Moreover, they can be sure of a possibility to apply directly at Unipetrol after their graduation.
University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague is a top research technical university with supra-regional reach. In addition to professional education in bachelor’s, master’s and PhD study programs, it provides quality basic and applied research in a wide range of fields including chemistry, technology, and engineering, materials, biochemistry, biotechnologies, pharmacy and food industry. University’s mission is to educate quality university-educated professionals for the manufacturing practice, public and state administration as well as top researches and scientists. Founded in 1952, UCT, Prague currently consists of four faculties – the Faculty of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Environmental Technology, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology and Faculty of Chemical Engineering.
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University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague combines tradition with the latest nano- and biotechnologies and other progressive fields and disciplines in science and research. Together with an excellent international reputation and top equipment it opens opportunities for every student to participate in research projects of their choice, allows international internships is then finally a ticket to prestigious, well-paid employment both at home and abroad.
UNIPETROL, a.s., controls companies operating in the petrochemical industry in the Czech Republic. In 2005, Unipetrol became part of the PKN Orlen Group, the Central Europe’s largest crude oil processor. The Unipetrol Group is oriented primarily towards crude oil processing, fuel distribution and petrochemical production. In all of these business areas, the Group is among the key players both in the Czech Republic and on the Central European market. The Group ranks among the leading companies in the Czech Republic in terms of revenues, and employs 4,500 people.