An insight into the first preparatory weekend in Basel

Jessica Kurmann, Aysan Yilmaz

The weekend was organized and led by Sabine and Ethan, who ensured that everything ran smoothly. Neither Sabine nor Ethan study chemistry, which is why organizing the Basel weekend is a great opportunity for them to get involved in the Olympiad and give back to the association. Sabine studies food science, but participated in the International Chemistry Olympiad in Zurich in 2023. On Saturday, she gave the participants an overview of the various events at the Chemistry Olympiad. This gave the participants an idea of the upcoming events and provided them with tips and tricks for the exams as well as recommendations for supplementary teaching materials.

The introductions to the various subfields of chemistry were given by Ethan, Silas, Jessica, Atena, Raffaele, Philippe, and Laura. Although Professor De Roo was unable to attend at short notice due to illness, the volunteers were able to take over the program smoothly.

The program was varied and intensive: the theory was followed immediately by exercises, so that what had been learned could be applied straight away. There were also regular short breaks with snacks, and the longer lunch break gave participants the opportunity to chat and exchange ideas. One highlight of the weekend was definitely the tour of the university's laser laboratory on Saturday. There, participants gained direct insight into the everyday work of chemists and were able to experience firsthand how diverse, creative, and technical chemistry can be.

At first, many were still a little nervous and hesitant, as the participants hardly knew each other. But after a short time, conversations began, small groups formed, and the atmosphere became increasingly relaxed. Especially during the breaks, there was a lively exchange of ideas: about chemistry, but also many other topics. The participants will now prepare for the central exam in January, mostly on their own.