A student’s perspective: competing at the International Chemistry Tournament
This summer, Lower Sixth student Sophie travelled to South Korea with the Perse team to compete in the International Chemistry Tournament, supported by a Perse Travel Award. In this first-hand reflection, Sophie shares her experience of tackling challenging scientific problems, debating solutions with students from around the world and exploring South Korean culture.
Supported by the generous aid of the Perse Travel Award, I was able to travel to South Korea this summer to compete in the 9th International Chemistry Tournament. Faced with a set of open ended, chemistry-based problems, I prepared a proposed novel solutions for a non-toxic coral adhesive, and for an extended-wear contact lens. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to present my coral problem, which was followed by a live scientific debate with another competitor, defending my solution under scrutiny. The research process allowed me to extend myself beyond curriculum Biology and Chemistry, applying my knowledge to new concepts, which also demonstrated to me the intrinsically linked nature of the sciences. As a team, we finished the competition 10th in the world, but that achievement is only one part of such a memorable experience.
The competition was hosted by the Korean Minjok Leadership Academy, the previous year’s winning team. The school maintains strong links to national identity, through its breathtaking architecture, simplified traditional uniform, and their curriculum – which consciously includes elements of traditional Korean life, through music, art (calligraphy) and archery. We were able to experience these activities in an afternoon of cultural immersion before the competition. The beauty of international competitions is the conglomeration of so many peers from vastly different backgrounds in one place. Speaking to other students from across the world; from Bulgaria, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan and more, I gained fascinating insights into the differences and many similarities of our daily lives, creating friendships and many stories. It was also amusing to observe that nothing unites teenagers (despite structured activities) quite like a sport of some form, which we discovered through an impromptu game of volleyball before the closing ceremony!
Exploring Seoul in the days before and after the competition offered a perspective into the harmonious blend of history and urban development in the capital. The experience of a renactment of the traditional changing of the guards ceremony in the Gyeongbokgung Palace, set against the background of modern office buildings truly epitomised this. It turns out that meandering through the Bukchon Hanok village was the perfect way to work up an appetite, allowing us to savour an authentic Korean lunch. It was interesting to see that, like many cultures around the world, mealtimes are designed to be a shared group experience.
It would be amiss to conclude a reflection of the trip without an honourable mention to the team dinners of Korean barbeque, the (many) trips to 7/11 and Olive Young, the karaoke night, the Lotte World theme park excursion, the derby baseball match at the Jamsil stadium, the (also many) music-filled coach rides and more, each of which contributed to the trip being a truly unforgettable experience. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the teachers and my teammates for the conversations and laughs and endless moral support, and to Mr Merison and Ms Copeland in particular for their unwavering commitment to making this trip the best it possibly could be!