On July 21st the opening ceremony of the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad (ICO) took place in the Heydar Aliyev Center.
The 47th ICO is organized by the Baku branch of Moscow State University. 292 young chemists from 75 countries, more than 250 scientists, observers, heads of groups, guests, officials of the Azerbaijani state and the government, diplomats and representatives of the intelligentsia took part in the ceremony.
The event started with introducing the teams participating at the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad. Then the participants of the event watched video footage dedicated to the Olympiad.
Professor Nargiz Pashayeva, rector of the Baku branch of Moscow State University named after Mikhail Lomonosov, Doctor of Philology, corresponding member of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, president of the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad, welcomed the participants, scholars and guests to the grandiose event.
“I am glad and proud of being the president of this important and exciting event. The youth – participants of the Olympiad that are present here – are the main source of my joy and pride.
Dear children, in accordance with the terms of the Olympiad, you will have a contest, real competitions and of course, hours and moments full of excitement. I have no doubt that you are youth who already have a knowledge of chemistry and are ready for a sound competition and real tests. Dear friends, be sure that during the period of staying in our country, Azerbaijan, Baku, our university will turn into your home for a while. I hope that each moment of staying with us, you will feel the hospitality, humanity, and goodwill of this home. We will spare no effort to ensure impartial, grandiose holding of the competition and to provide the right place with relevant conditions. Your wishes, hopes and demands are inseparable from our wishes, hopes and demands. You, the future scholars of chemistry, should always bear in mind the courage to learn, discover, as well as a passion and burning desire to invent. This desire, flame and this aspiration should never weaken or fade. Humanity has always sought, tried and will try to learn, to explain the existing world, the nature, the universe step by step and stage by stage. Do not doubt that successful future depends on people with pure heart and bright mind – the army of scientists. Do not doubt that the issues that are currently a mystery for science are waiting for you.
Dear friends, today we all understand that our planet is not so big. That's why we have chosen the motto of the Baku Olympiad - ‘Life as a huge chemistry laboratory’. Remember that the major part of this laboratory consists of the living nature which has created us and gave us life. Protecting the nature means protecting the beauty, saving the beauty means protecting the truth, protecting the truth means saving the spirituality and saving the spirituality means protecting the humanity. You should bear these values. Because, without these values, the knowledge could be meaningless and science could be limited and helpless, and sometimes dangerous. A generous, kind, broad, humane heart and a brave, bright and talented mind - is the ideal!
As Goethe said, science belongs to all people and it has no nationality. Today, 75 teams representing 75 countries are present in this hall. Members of each team are different inwardly and outwardly, they speak different languages and represent various traditions. At the same time, the indispensable factor which today brought us together and made us a team is apparent. Namely this factor turns us into the citizens of one common country, a state without borders. This country is science, education and culture. It is an indestructible state. Its flag is light, that’s to say, the Sun, its anthem – singing of birds, nightingales and its sign is the life itself and existence.
I once again welcome you with love in my heart, wish the young participants success, interesting moments, good mood, zeal, patience and inner confidence! I declare the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad organized by the Baku branch of Moscow State University in 2015 in Azerbaijan, Baku, open!
The deputy premier Ismet Abasov said, welcoming participants and guests of the Olympiad on behalf of the Azerbaijani government: “I am sure that days which you will spend in our capital will give you a lot of great impressions and positive emotions. The fact that today the Heydar Aliyev Center, a wonderful example of modern architecture, has gathered scientists of the future proves immense care about building economy which is based on education, science, and knowledge. I hope you will see it during the Olympiad. I am sure that the leadership of the Baku branch of MSU, which is organizing the event, its tutors will take care of each participant.”
Noting that Azerbaijan has always been famous for its oil resources, Ismet Abasov said that the works which are provided today are based on President’s call “To turn black gold into human capital assets”, which was presented in 2003. The deputy premier also noted that the First Lady of Azerbaijan, the head of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, pays great attention to development of education, science, and culture in the country. Ismet Abasov said that July 21st would be remembered in the history of Azerbaijan as an intellectual tournament and wished all participants good luck.
Addressing the event, Duckhwan Lee, chairman of the Steering Committee of the International Chemistry Olympiad, professor at Sogang University (South Korea) welcomed the participants of the Olympiad in the Land of Fire – Azerbaijan. Duckhwan Lee expressed deepest gratitude to the Baku branch of Moscow State University and to Professor Nargiz Pashayeva, rector of the University, president of the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad.
Furthermore he said that perfectly normal tasks will be given to the participants in the competition. First of all, the participants of the Olympiad need to pay attention to the fair competition, he said. “Competition is an essential and unavoidable part of our life. You make progress in your own life through competitions. Chemistry also makes progresses through competitions,” he added.
“Azerbaijan is a wonderful country. It is in fact, here in Azerbaijan where modern oil industries started more than a hundred years ago. It was here in Baku, I was told, where the first pipe lines for crude oil were constructed. In a sense, you cannot find a better place than Baku for Chemistry Olympiad,” said Duckhwan Lee.
At the ceremony, world-known scientists expressed their congratulations to the young researchers.
The Rector of Moscow State University, Viktor Sadovnichy, noted in his letter that the institution he leads has hosted the International Chemistry Olympiad three times. "This year the Olympiad is being held in the capital of Azerbaijan – wonderful Baku – for the first time. Our university once again takes an active part in this event, because the event is organized by the Baku branch of Moscow State University," the academician stressed.
At the ceremony, world-known scientists expressed their congratulations to the young researchers. Winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1992, Rudolph Arthur Marcus, said in a video message that the International Chemistry Olympiad is a great opportunity to get acquainted with different cultures and enrich your knowledge of chemistry through mutual communication. "Baku, which I have often visited, is a beautiful city, known for its ancient history and the sincerity of the people," the scientist noted.
The winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1999, Professor Ahmed Zewail, expressed his satisfaction with the conduction of the Olympiad in Azerbaijan. "The International Chemistry Olympiad is a respected competition, where the brightest young minds celebrate the beauty and richness of chemistry. Entering into an intellectual union with their peers from all over the world, they are shaping the future of the scientific community. I am confident that you will discover the charming city of Baku and enjoy the warm hospitality of the Azerbaijani people," Professor Zewail said in a statement.
The famous Azerbaijani scientist, Professor of the University of California Lotfi Zadeh, also addressed the participants of this global competition. While noting the rapid development of Azerbaijan and the strengthening of the authority of the country at the international level, the scientist pointed out that holding the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad in Azerbaijan is an important indicator of the development and the continuation up to now of the achievements under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev in the field of science, technology and culture.
Professor of the University of Maryland, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, Roald Sagdeev, in his video message welcomed the participants and the president of the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad Professor Nargiz Pashayeva.
"It is no coincidence that this Olympiad is held in Baku, because the capital of Azerbaijan, in fact, is a rapidly growing city, where, as it turns out, great attention is paid to science and education," he noted. The scientist stressed that the future of humanity depends on the approach of young researchers to the questions of the influence of chemistry on human life, industry and environment.
Azerbaijani folk songs and melodies performed by the young tar player Javanshir Rustambeyli, People's Artist Azer Zeynalov, singer Agshin Abdullayev and young talents sounded at the event. The Azerbaijan State Chamber Orchestra under the direction of People's Artist Teymur Gёychaeva, the Azerbaijan state orchestra of folk musical instruments under the direction of People's Artist Agaverdi Pashayeva as well as dance collectives performed at the ceremony.
At the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad, which will last till July 29, the schoolchildren will test their theoretical and practical knowledge in the Baku branch of Moscow State University.
This university, which has recently strengthened its scientific and educational base, possesses chemical laboratories provided with the latest equipment. Currently, the chemical faculty of the Baku branch of Moscow State University is one of the leading educational centers in the country in this sphere.
The decision to hold the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad in Azerbaijan, Baku branch of Moscow State University was made by the International Jury of the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad, which was held in 2012 in Washington. At the closing ceremony of the 46th International Chemistry Olympiad in the capital of Vietnam – Hanoi in 2014, the Chemistry Olympiad flag was handed over to the organizer of the 47th Olympiad - Baku branch of Moscow State University. Azerbaijan is the second country in the CIS after Russia to host the International Chemistry Olympiad.
Azerbaijan’s team participating in the 47th Olympiad includes Dilgam Ahmadli, graduate of Istek Lyceum in 2015; Sergey Stepin, graduate of the Lyceum named after academician Zarifa Aliyeva; Huseyn Babayev, who finished the 10th grade of the Istek Lyceum in 2015; and Ruslan Mammadov, who finished the 10th grade of the classical grammar school No. 160.
The team is led by Mehman Bunyadov, researcher of the Organic Chemistry Laboratory of Qafqaz University, who won a bronze medal at the 41st International Chemistry Olympiad in 2009 in the UK.
The 47th Chemistry Olympiad is held with the support of Azerbaijani Education Ministry, Ministry of Youth and Sports, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and the Heydar Aliyev Center.
