Eurachem

taby

I was at the Chemistry competition today called Eurachem. Twas rather interesting. i didn't win or anything and i was sick for most of the day which really didn't help with calculations which usually require a mind not suffering with massive headache etc. :-p

But i thought it was really good idea. It improved my technique majorly and it also vastly improved my knowledge of some aspects of experimental techniques I hadn' come across.

I'm just throwing this in to the forum to see if anyone else took part today or if anyone has taken part in past. :-)

And should we have more Science orientated competitions to increase interest in Science or will it make it too competitive?

GuanYin

Originally posted by taby
I was at the Chemistry competition today called Eurachem. Twas rather interesting. i didn't win or anything and i was sick for most of the day which really didn't help with calculations which usually require a mind not suffering with massive headache etc. :-p

But i thought it was really good idea. It improved my technique majorly and it also vastly improved my knowledge of some aspects of experimental techniques I hadn' come across.

I'm just throwing this in to the forum to see if anyone else took part today or if anyone has taken part in past. :-)

And should we have more Science orientated competitions to increase interest in Science or will it make it too competitive?

Puzzlingly the competitions that do exist in abundance seem geared towards schooleavers trying to encourage them into science or towards postgraduates as a means of motiation/reward.

There are fewer high profile competitions for undergraduates, probably because the rate of attrition for the courses is so high.

I think it would be great o see more of them. Oh, and if you don't think science is a competitive area you are deluding yourself

taby

Hmmm i know for certain that Science is VERY competitive area. In any course you can see it.

Eurachem is a very good idea. Apart from the fact that it is just open to second yr undergraduates. It really would be good idea to also have it open to first yr undergraduates. That way they could take what they learned and re enter the next yr maybe.

Congratulations if anyone who won is reading this. I'm pretty sure I said congratulations to all. :-)

Ah well there's always Examplarchem I suppose.....

:-)

And it definitly improved my technique :-)

SOL

Whats Eurachem?
I did the Chemistry olympiad last year which is aimed at people in secondary school they have them for maths physics bio and computers too, they do a national one and then send some of those competitors to the international one, which was in greece last year, anyways, I'd be very interested if there are any competitions aimed at third level students. Not that 1st year isn't engaging or anything

taby

Eurachem is a competition for 2nd year undergraduates. It basically is all about technique and calculations. This year there was a back titration and a uv anaylsis. You will prob do a back titration of asprin in first yr chemistry. I did anyway.

I dunno what competitons there are for first yr undergraduates. I think there should be some because the earlier proper technique is learned the better. :-)

Usually the Institute of Chemistry or the RSC have some competitions for undergraduates. Maybe check their websites.

Gleanndún

Originally posted by syke
...if you don't think science is a competitive area you are deluding yourself

i agree that science is a competitive field, but that doesnt mean it SHOULD b. nething we can do 2 make it less so would b awesome. it stifles communication of ideas and therefore eats the advance of science alive. ppl need 2 work 2gether; y cant we all just get along?:p

p.s. i didnt kno they had science competitions beyond highschool. r they common?

taby

hmmm well afaik there is Eurachem and Exempharchem. The first is run as i said by the Institute of Chemistry Ireland and the second is run by the RSC.

There are probably more competitions for the college science people but i haven't come across them yet.

:-)

p.s. i didnt kno they had science competitions beyond highschool. r they common?

Its secondary school not high school over here :-p

Gleanndún

wutever--same thing:p

Our man in Havana

Originally posted by taby
I'm just throwing this in to the forum to see if anyone else took part today or if anyone has taken part in past. :-)

I took part in it in 2002. It was held in GMIT Galway. I represented IT Carlow and we came 2nd. Got a nice plaque and a cheque for £35. We were treated like God in the chemistry dept for weeks!

Glad you enjoyed your day taby!