Ateneo Chemistry Society Holds 2021 Olympiad

The Ateneo Chemistry Society (ACheS) held its Ateneo Chemistry Olympiad (AChO) 2021 last April 24 and 30 via online platforms. The event is a nationwide competition participated by Grades 9-12 students.

Now in its 10th year, the event aims to be more than just a competition. More than anything, it aims to be an avenue for discourse between the masses, the scientists, and science enthusiasts especially in this time where the pandemic and numerous typhoons hit the country. This goal is exhibited through the new and exciting Video Presentation Contest, wide array of influential webinar speakers, interesting Infographics, and the very personal Mentorship Program – all these to genuinely present the theme, “Sa Hapag ng Mamamayan.”

With the current pandemic situation, the organizing committee was forced to shift the conduct of the event online. This posed some challenges, “AChO has never been held online – and it seemed impossible to do so because AChO used to have a laboratory exam where the high school participants will be performing exciting experiments on their own. Usually, students were also encouraged to join because it is an opportunity for them to get to visit the Ateneo”, shared AChO Co-Project Head, Ysabelle Clare Bambalan.

“We had to decide on our platforms, create new contest mechanics, and device more ways to lessen the doubt and uncertainties from the participant…I believe that all of this can be solved by planning, as how the project team planned for more than 7 months.”, Jonalyn Enriquez, AChO Co-Project Head expressed on the how they solved the challenges.

Knowledge Channel Foundation is an official media partner of the Ateneo Chemistry Olympiad 2021.