Preparations for 2013 Chemistry Olympiad start in Abu Dhabi

This will be the second time Emirati students prepare for the French National Chemistry Olympiad, which is mainly organized to encourage students to engage in graduate scientific studies, while developing their interest in Chemistry in order to help form the Emirati scientific elite of tomorrow.

The chemistry Olympiad aims to build a contemporary look on chemistry with major technical inputs, risk and safety of devices and products used and impact on the environment.

These results in unusual practical sessions, lectures and additional course around a current topic in chemistry: 'Chemistry and Sports'.

Some of the subjects covered this year include: Analysis of pool water; Carbohydrates: fuel of athletes; Synthesis of an ester; caffeine extraction; polymers: nylon and slime; oxidation of cyclohexanol.

The Emirati students from the Al Ittihad School practiced several times after their school day during three hours to be prepared for the competition. Their interest for chemistry combined with their efforts and devotion resulted in them achieving a very good level.

The French national Olympiads in chemistry is a competition-oriented education held to encourage vocations in chemistry. Various countries are represented in the competition, namely: Spain, Belgium, Colombia, United States, Congo, Haiti, Madagascar and of course the UAE.

Exams comprise of a series of manipulations to be carried out individually and a quiz. The two top students from across the French schools abroad network called: AEFE, will go to Paris to compete against the best French students for the national contest, taking place at the French Louis le Grandin Paris.

In order to help prepare themselves for the competition, students went through five practical sessions of two hours held from early October to late February, three conferences and a quiz on the topic were also prepared for the students. There were a few sessions devoted on how to present the equipment and a number of courses delivered throughout the year on new concepts related to chemistry.

LLG Advanced Math and Science Pilot Classes are classes of excellence in Abu Dhabi, according to Lycée Louis-le-Grand (LLG) tradition. The main goal of those classes is to prepare Emirati students to reach their full potential and for entry into math and science courses of excellence in higher education or into courses leading to engineering qualifications. Louis-le-Grand, aiming at Excellency, plays a leading role in the education of French elites.

The Lycée Louis-le-Grand has developed a Math and Science curriculum for the LLG Advanced Math and Science Pilot Classes synchronized with the UAE and ADEC curricula. This curriculum is focusing on both theoretical and applied parts so that it will favor: scientific skills, intelligence, observation, curiosity and creative thinking.