ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. 23 August 2023 -A delegation consisting of four local Chemistry prodigies and three Chemistry mentors from The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus’ Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) embarked on a journey to Switzerland on Friday, July 14, 2023 to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the 55th International Chemistry (IChO) Olympiad held in Zurich.

"This year marks a significant milestone in Trinidad and Tobago's educational journey as we participate in-person in the esteemed international competition," stated Dr. Terry Mohammed, Deputy Dean, Outreach, FST. "Our team's representation not only reflects their exceptional capabilities but also positions them as the first from a CARICOM country to participate."

The delegation, comprised Fazeel Ali, Raymond Liu, and Saiesh Rampersad, all hailing from Presentation College, Chaguanas, along with Jaron Mohammed from Couva East Secondary School. During the local phase of the competition, Fazeel Ali was bestowed with the title of Top Senior Chemist, while Kashveer Sookoor of Naparima College earned the recognition of Top Junior Chemist for the year 2023. The top five students from each level of the competition were subsequently invited to a rigorous two-week training camp at The UWI. Ultimately, the final team was formed by selecting the top four students based on their performance in the final examination from July 16 to 25, 2023.

Accompanying the students were representatives from the Faculty of Science and Technology, all of whom were members of the Trinidad and Tobago Chemistry Olympiad (TTChO). This mentorship team consisted of Dr. Nigel Jalsa, Senior Lecturer in Biological Chemistry who served as the Head Mentor and Coordinator of TTChO; Dr. Terry Mohammed, the Deputy Dean responsible for Outreach and Coordination of TTChO; and Ms. Laura Rambaran-Seepersad, Senior Administrative Assistant within the Dean’s Office, who also played a crucial role as Coordinator of TTChO.

The inception of the TTChO dates back to 2019 when the Faculty of Science and Technology at The UWI St. Augustine introduced the initiative. Throughout the years, the TTChO has remained a cornerstone project of the faculty's outreach efforts. Through a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Education, this local Chemistry Olympiad aimed not only to identify the most accomplished secondary school chemistry students but also to cultivate a deep-rooted interest in the subject and elevate the standards of chemistry education. Outstanding students who excelled in the local competition were offered the opportunity to progress to the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), a prestigious global stage where they could engage and interact with fellow chemistry enthusiasts.

The Faculty of Science and Technology expressed heartfelt gratitude to their sponsors, including the Unit Trust Corporation (UTC), Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited (PPGPL), The National Gas Company (NGC), Starbucks, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Kaizen Environmental Services (Trinidad) Limited and The Department of Chemistry at UWI for their unwavering support in enabling the participation of the Trinidad and Tobago team on this international platform.