On May 6, in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state, the 59th International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad (IMChO-59) began - one of the largest school chemistry competitions in the world. The Olympiad is organized by the Chemistry department of Moscow State University (MSU) and the Melnichenko Foundation. This year’s partner organizer is the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Since 2023, the Olympiad has been held within the framework of the Decade of Science and Technology announced by the President of Russia and included in the "Science of Winning" initiative.
This year, the Olympiad brought together an unprecedented number of countries - talented students from 40 countries came to Brazil to compete for the title of the best chemist in the world.
Video greetings were sent by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov, and the Governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema.
Representatives of the Russian diplomatic mission in Brazil, academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences, renowned Brazilian and Russian chemists, as well as representatives of the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the government of Minas Gerais, and the Belo Horizonte city administration participated in the ceremony.
The colorful ceremony took place at the former government residence Mangabeiras, featuring a flag parade, capoeira performance, and an exciting chemistry show. A special highlight was the performance by the only foreign school of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre in Brazil.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko greeted the participants: "This is a unique platform for popularizing science and exchanging knowledge. The Olympiad is unusual - it is held in hospitable Brazil, which hosts Russia’s BRICS chairmanship. Together with other countries, we promote scientific cooperation and form a new generation of scientists and a unified intellectual and humanitarian space."
Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov wished the participants good luck: "Bringing together representatives of the strongest scientific and educational schools worldwide, we contribute greatly to creating a better future for the state. I express special thanks to our colleagues from the Brazilian Federal Ministry of Education, the government, and the University of Minas Gerais for organizing the Mendeleev Olympiad. I also want to note the work of the MSU Chemistry Faculty and the Melnikenko Foundation. Thanks to joint efforts, this will be a great celebration of science, friendship, and mutual understanding between our peoples."
Chairman of the Olympiad Organizing Committee, scientific supervisor of the MSU Chemistry Faculty and Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Stepan Kalmykov said that this year IMChO-59 has a record number of participants - 40 countries. This became possible because the Olympiad is held for the first time in the Western Hemisphere, in Latin America. For the first time, Bolivia, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela participate. The geography covers the whole world, including newcomers from Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Lebanon, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
BRICS countries participating include Brazil, China, South Africa, and UAE. CIS member and participant countries include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
Other countries sending their best young chemists are Vietnam, Israel, Kenya, Cuba, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, North Macedonia, Serbia, Syria, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Croatia.
Entrepreneur and founder of EuroChem and SUEK, Andrey Melnichenko, wished good luck and noted: "For the Melnichenko Foundation, co-organizer of the Olympiad since 2018, supporting this large-scale project is a great honor and an important part of efforts to promote career growth and scientific excellence in the regions where EuroChem operates. Participation in the Olympiad opens wide opportunities for professional growth and inspires new scientific achievements. The complexity and originality of the tasks require high creativity and bold thinking."
Co-chair of the Organizing Committee, Melnichenko Foundation CEO Tatyana Zhuravleva emphasized: "With its expansion to South America, the International Mendeleev Olympiad strengthens its role as a global platform for scientific and educational cooperation. It also opens new opportunities for friendly ties among young chemists from different countries. I am confident that participants will use this unique chance to demonstrate their knowledge, broaden their horizons, and make new acquaintances, laying the foundation for future successful projects in science, education, and economy."
Russian Consul in Rio de Janeiro Alexander Korolev said: "On behalf of the Russian Consulate General in Rio, I greet participants, organizers, and guests. In the year Brazil chairs BRICS, hosting the Olympiad here is very symbolic. We hope it will return here many times and attract even more participants."
Governor of Minas Gerais Romeu Zema stressed the importance of the Olympiad for regional science development and said the state team works responsibly to make science and education a priority: "Minas Gerais is proud to host the 59th International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad for the first time. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious scientific Olympiads in the world, held under UNESCO auspices. We actively invest in research and development. Over the past six years, more than 1 billion reais have been allocated to technology and innovation policies across the state."
Chairman of the jury and methodological commission of IMChO-59, MSU Chemistry Faculty professor and director of the MSU University Gymnasium Alexander Gladilin explained that the competition has three rounds: two theoretical and one practical. The tasks are strictly secret. The first round includes eight mandatory problems from different chemistry fields. The second theoretical round offers five blocks with three problems each from organic, inorganic, physical, analytical chemistry, and life sciences. Participants choose one problem per block. The practical round lasts 5 hours and tests laboratory skills in chemical analysis and synthesis according to provided methods.
The working languages of the Olympiad are Russian and English. Tasks may be translated into the teams’ national languages upon request.
UFMG Chemistry department president Sandra Regina Gular Almeida called IMChO-59 an exceptional event for both the university and Brazil: "We believe hosting such a prestigious chemistry event will lead to major breakthroughs in international cooperation and help popularize chemistry worldwide."
Results will be announced on May 12, including winners and laureates of the Academician Valery Lunin prize.
Links to the broadcast:
https://youtube.com/live/XgR0W4X_RrM
https://vk.com/video-179686746_456239099
Photos: https://vk.com/album-179686746_308669041
This year, the Olympiad brought together an unprecedented number of countries - talented students from 40 countries came to Brazil to compete for the title of the best chemist in the world.
Video greetings were sent by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov, and the Governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema.
Representatives of the Russian diplomatic mission in Brazil, academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences, renowned Brazilian and Russian chemists, as well as representatives of the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the government of Minas Gerais, and the Belo Horizonte city administration participated in the ceremony.
The colorful ceremony took place at the former government residence Mangabeiras, featuring a flag parade, capoeira performance, and an exciting chemistry show. A special highlight was the performance by the only foreign school of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre in Brazil.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko greeted the participants: "This is a unique platform for popularizing science and exchanging knowledge. The Olympiad is unusual - it is held in hospitable Brazil, which hosts Russia’s BRICS chairmanship. Together with other countries, we promote scientific cooperation and form a new generation of scientists and a unified intellectual and humanitarian space."
Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov wished the participants good luck: "Bringing together representatives of the strongest scientific and educational schools worldwide, we contribute greatly to creating a better future for the state. I express special thanks to our colleagues from the Brazilian Federal Ministry of Education, the government, and the University of Minas Gerais for organizing the Mendeleev Olympiad. I also want to note the work of the MSU Chemistry Faculty and the Melnikenko Foundation. Thanks to joint efforts, this will be a great celebration of science, friendship, and mutual understanding between our peoples."
Chairman of the Olympiad Organizing Committee, scientific supervisor of the MSU Chemistry Faculty and Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Stepan Kalmykov said that this year IMChO-59 has a record number of participants - 40 countries. This became possible because the Olympiad is held for the first time in the Western Hemisphere, in Latin America. For the first time, Bolivia, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela participate. The geography covers the whole world, including newcomers from Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Lebanon, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
BRICS countries participating include Brazil, China, South Africa, and UAE. CIS member and participant countries include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
Other countries sending their best young chemists are Vietnam, Israel, Kenya, Cuba, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, North Macedonia, Serbia, Syria, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Croatia.
Entrepreneur and founder of EuroChem and SUEK, Andrey Melnichenko, wished good luck and noted: "For the Melnichenko Foundation, co-organizer of the Olympiad since 2018, supporting this large-scale project is a great honor and an important part of efforts to promote career growth and scientific excellence in the regions where EuroChem operates. Participation in the Olympiad opens wide opportunities for professional growth and inspires new scientific achievements. The complexity and originality of the tasks require high creativity and bold thinking."
Co-chair of the Organizing Committee, Melnichenko Foundation CEO Tatyana Zhuravleva emphasized: "With its expansion to South America, the International Mendeleev Olympiad strengthens its role as a global platform for scientific and educational cooperation. It also opens new opportunities for friendly ties among young chemists from different countries. I am confident that participants will use this unique chance to demonstrate their knowledge, broaden their horizons, and make new acquaintances, laying the foundation for future successful projects in science, education, and economy."
Russian Consul in Rio de Janeiro Alexander Korolev said: "On behalf of the Russian Consulate General in Rio, I greet participants, organizers, and guests. In the year Brazil chairs BRICS, hosting the Olympiad here is very symbolic. We hope it will return here many times and attract even more participants."
Governor of Minas Gerais Romeu Zema stressed the importance of the Olympiad for regional science development and said the state team works responsibly to make science and education a priority: "Minas Gerais is proud to host the 59th International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad for the first time. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious scientific Olympiads in the world, held under UNESCO auspices. We actively invest in research and development. Over the past six years, more than 1 billion reais have been allocated to technology and innovation policies across the state."
Chairman of the jury and methodological commission of IMChO-59, MSU Chemistry Faculty professor and director of the MSU University Gymnasium Alexander Gladilin explained that the competition has three rounds: two theoretical and one practical. The tasks are strictly secret. The first round includes eight mandatory problems from different chemistry fields. The second theoretical round offers five blocks with three problems each from organic, inorganic, physical, analytical chemistry, and life sciences. Participants choose one problem per block. The practical round lasts 5 hours and tests laboratory skills in chemical analysis and synthesis according to provided methods.
The working languages of the Olympiad are Russian and English. Tasks may be translated into the teams’ national languages upon request.
UFMG Chemistry department president Sandra Regina Gular Almeida called IMChO-59 an exceptional event for both the university and Brazil: "We believe hosting such a prestigious chemistry event will lead to major breakthroughs in international cooperation and help popularize chemistry worldwide."
Results will be announced on May 12, including winners and laureates of the Academician Valery Lunin prize.
Links to the broadcast:
https://youtube.com/live/XgR0W4X_RrM
https://vk.com/video-179686746_456239099
Photos: https://vk.com/album-179686746_308669041