On Saturday, December 13, the 8th Chemistry Olympiad and the 8th Inter-School Chemistry Competition officially began. A total of 148 students from different parts of Ecuador participated in the first-round examination, taking the first step toward advancing to the next stage of the competition.
In Guayaquil, the main venue was the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), where more than 70 students from various educational institutions gathered to take the exam. In addition, 76 students from schools in other cities participated simultaneously at venues located in Portoviejo, Machala, Quevedo, Quito, Cuenca, and Loja.
In this competition, students are challenged to demonstrate their knowledge in Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Laboratory Procedures. During the preparation process, many coaches highlighted the commitment and dedication shown by their students. One example is the team from Unidad Educativa Ecuatoriana Austriaca, located in the canton of Pedro Carbo. Their coach, Jonathan López, explained that the students prepared during their free afternoon hours in order to perform at their best on the exam.
“The students were excited to visit the university; many of them hope to study here in the future,” he said, emphasizing both “the spirit of healthy competition and the rewards of their hard work.”
Meanwhile, Professor Vilma Castro, coach of the students from Unidad Educativa Vilma Castro in Guayaquil, stressed that the competition serves not only as a learning opportunity but also as a space for students from different schools to connect and build camaraderie. She also noted that many of her students aspire to attend ESPOL and appreciate the opportunity to experience its level of academic rigor.
In Phase 1 of the 2025 Chemistry Competitions, the 10 schools with the highest team scores will qualify for the next stage of the 8th Inter-School Chemistry Competition. Likewise, the 40 students with the highest individual scores will advance to the next round of the 8th Ecuadorian Chemistry Olympiad 2025.
Phase 2 will take place on January 17, 2026.
