National Chemistry Olympiad 2013 at SABIC

SITTARD, The Netherlands, May 28, 2013 - The National Chemistry Olympiad is an annual competition for talented students in higher education. The aim is to raise the profile of chemistry in secondary schools and to foster young talent. The finals of the 34th Olympiad will take place from June 5th to June 12th 2013. SABIC, one of the world leaders in the chemicals sector, will host the event from its European Headquarters in Limburg, in the south of the Netherlands.

National Chemistry Olympiad

Around 3,500 students are taking part in the competition from early 2013 onwards. The 20 finalists selected to go on to the finals week at SABIC have been announced following two rounds of assessment. The four eventual winners will be announced on June 12, 2013 during a festive closing ceremony in the Government building, the House of the Provincial Authority in Maastricht. The winners will then go on to represent the Netherlands in July 2013 at the International Chemistry Olympiad in Moscow.

The Olympiad is hosted alternately by a company and by a university. This year the Committee for the National Chemistry Olympiad organizes the event in collaboration with SABIC. The competition is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Cito (examination institute), the Netherlands Royal Chemistry Association (KNCV), the Association of the Netherlands Chemicals Industry (VNCI) and a number of other partners.

Chemistry X-Factor in Limburg

Finals week will be held in Limburg from June 5 - 12 at SABIC's Headquarters in Sittard, and their R&D and production sites on the Chemelot Campus. During this week the students will be brought to a higher level in terms of both practical skills and scientific content. The many facets of chemistry will be explored, such as applications in society and challenges in the areas of packaging, energy, health and our future. Career possibilities at Limburg, nationally and internationally will also be showcased.

Chemistry that Matters™

The chemicals sector is an important and innovative element of the Dutch and the regional economy. Koos van Haasteren, SABIC's Vice President Europe and main sponsor of the Olympiad: "Chemistry is a fascinating and multifaceted subject. Chemists work on innovative and sustainable applications which are indispensable for our society. People with expertise in chemistry are important for companies in the chemicals sector, like SABIC. It's impossible to maintain a leading international position in the chemicals field without innovative talent. So we are always glad to share our expertise and experience with talented students of chemistry."

Van Haasteren continues: "With our contribution to the Olympiad we underline the importance of chemistry in secondary education and the need to encourage rising talent. These students are the future and a fascinating and multifaceted program awaits them in June. It's likely that we will meet up with participants again in the future, whether through work placement, as graduates or as members of staff."

Management at the Chemelot Campus in South-Limburg, which is of national importance through the research, development and teaching in chemicals and materials which go on there, also show their support to the Olympiad.

Bert Kip, Managing Director at Chemelot Campus: "The government has identified the chemicals industry as a top-ranking economic sector. South-Limburg has a long history of successful innovation in chemistry, and this has now been concentrated to a large extent at Chemelot Campus, a focal point for free innovation. The knowledge and skills of the educational sector and the chemical companies are brought together here, allowing Chemelot Campus to develop into an engine for the economy of Limburg. But this engine can only continue to operate at full power if enough young people choose careers in this field, a choice which we would heartily recommend to the participants in the Olympiad. A fascinating week awaits them in the finals, and we wish them every success."

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