From a young age, he began participating in the mathematics Olympics, but after the pandemic of the last few years that Artur allowed himself to embark on chemistry, falling in love and studying vigorously. Despite almost not passing the state selective, he won bronze in the Ceará Chemistry Olympiad and qualified for the national level until he reached the international level.

“It is a great honor for me to represent Brazil in an international academic competition. Science is an underestimated field in my country, and I see this Olympiad as an opportunity to bring visibility to the area. I believe scientific programs like the Olympics are the right path, as introducing the subject to students early can ignite their interest in this field.”

Gabriel started his path in 2021, still in elementary school, with the State Chemistry Olympiad, moving on to the national selective as the first step to reach the international competition, for which he qualified in 1st place.

“It is a great honor to represent Brazil in an international competition, and I feel very proud of the path I have traveled and the challenges I have faced to achieve this accomplishment. Regardless of the size of the challenge, above all, we always need to believe in ourselves and in our abilities. Not losing faith in oneself and never giving up are fundamental aspects in achieving anything.”

“It is a dream come true to represent Brazil in such an important and respected international competition like the IChO. Participating in an international Olympiad is a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world, allowing us to immerse ourselves in different cultures and form friendships with students who are also interested in chemistry. Moreover, it is a chance to learn and test our knowledge in chemistry through a high-level examination.”

João believes that to encourage young people to pursue a career in chemistry, “it is important to have projects that show students the field of chemistry and its potential to help society. The Olympics are extremely important in inspiring young people to study chemistry, as they stimulate curiosity and encourage students to delve deeper into the subject matter.”

With a post-doctorate in the UK, she started her career as a professor at the Federal University of Piauí, coordinating the first Chemistry Olympiad of the state in 1995. After many experiences and studies, she coordinates different projects and the National Chemistry Olympiad Program.

For Professor Nilce, one of the ways to inspire young people is to show the potential contribution of Chemistry to life, the environment, sustainable development, the cure and treatment of diseases, and how it can contribute to the planet’s health.

“Participating in an International Olympics like the IChO representing Brazil is an honor. It is a feeling of pride for our country, not forgetting the responsibility.

The participation of a student in a scientific Olympiad contributes to awakening scientific curiosity and deepening the studies, and also allows the appreciation of the student, formation of interpersonal ties, and opening of new horizons, among other aspects that can result in better-prepared professionals, since elementary school, with awareness and responsibility of their contribution to a more sustainable planet.”