Welcoming Message of George A. Oláh of the Chairman
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Catalyzer 7/6/07 11:25 AM Page 1 Issue No. 1 – Sunday 22 July 2007 Welcoming message Welcoming message of George A. Oláh of the Chairman It is my pleasure to invite Dear Friends, you to the 40th Interna- I am really pleased to invite tional Chemistry Olympi- you to Budapest on the ad to be held in Budapest, occasion of the 40th Inter- in the city where my sci- national Chemistry Olym- entific career had started. piad. It is the fourth time that Hungary hosts this prestigious event and be- Hungary has a long tradition of academic competitions, ing a veteran IChO organizer I remember well the 3rd dating back to the 19th century. As one of the three Olympiad, which was held at the Eötvös Loránd Uni- founding countries, it will host the Chemistry Olympiad versity. Looking back to these first steps of the chemistry once again, 40 years after the first event. olympiad movement, they started as local, friendly get- together parties in chemistry. Since that time IChO’s have Being a friendly competition for secondary school stu- become professionally organized, world-wide events dents, the Olympiad motivates and educates the best stu- gaining considerable international reputation. Enlarge- dents of more than 70 nations. There are only a few ment frequently results in loss of quality but not in this meetings in Chemistry that have such a wide participa- case because these events are dominated by such basic tion reaching almost to the 80 percent of the population values as the respect of science and education, clear and of the globe. fair atmosphere of the competitions with all of these glued together by friendship and goodwill. Chemistry has a wide array of unexplored and challenging problems to be solved by a new generation of chemists. So come and try your professional skills in the course of I hope that the Olympiad will become an important starting the competitions, come and enjoy Hungary! point in the career of the participants towards Chemistry. In other words: ”Gaudeamus igitur...” Oláh A. György Szepes László Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, 1994 Chairman of the 40th IChO Distinguished Professor of Organic Chemistry, University Deputy Director of Education of the Institute of Chemistry, of Southern California Eötvös Loránd University Catalyzer 7/6/07 11:25 AM Page 2 40th International Chemistry Olympiad– 2008 Budapest, Hungary Issue No. 1 – Sunday 22 July 2007 Hungary Hungarians Culture Budapest ELTE Students'accommodation Hungary lies landlocked in Central Hungarian people originate from some- Hungarian, the only official language Budapest, the beautiful capital of The 40th IChO will be organized at the The students and guides will stay in the Europe. The area of the country is a mere where near the Ural Mountains accord- belongs to the same family as Finnish and Hungary is by far the biggest city in the Eötvös Loránd University (Hungarian dormitory of the University of Gödöllõ, a 93 thousand square kilometres and out of ing to the prevailing theory based on the Estonian. Some say it is one of the hardest country with its population of 1.8 million acronym: ELTE), the oldest and largest town about half an hour’s drive from its 10 million inhabitants almost one fifth fact that their language belongs to the languages to learn being an agglutinat- people. It is divided by the Danube into institution of higher education in Budapest. The newly built buildings are lives in the capital Budapest, located in Finno-Ugric family. The settlement in the ing one. Cuisine is also a prominent part two parts, hills rising on the right-hand Hungary. The university is sometimes close to the 150 year old main building the middle of the country. The great rivers Carpathian Basin is dated to the year 896 of the national culture, which usually side, featuring numerous caves and hot Duna (or Danube) and Tisza cross the ter- AD, in the age of the Great Migrations, at splits the visitors since it is quite spicy and springs in the heart of the city, while the rain in north-south direction dividing it which time chiefs lead the people. In includes a lot of meat dishes. These are left-hand side is almost flat. A total of 9 traditionally flavoured with red paprika, bridges arc over the river that also maybe the most famous of them being embraces two big islands. Margaret the gulyás (or goulash) soup. Hungarian Island (formerly called Island of Rabbits) musical life has always been ranked is a popular place among local people. high with many acclaimed composers The foundation of the northwestern area also referred to as the University of of the university and its wonderful gar- and performers (just to name Bartók and dates back to the Roman Empire, at that Budapest although there are more than dens. With lots of greenery, the place Liszt). The literature has just recently time called Aquincum, but the first castle ten universities in town. radiates a tranquil atmosphere. Besides was only built in 1247 on Castle Hill and the rooms there are common halls for its present form was finished in 1903. The University was founded in 1635. It has evening programs and fields for those There are many sights in Budapest, some functioned as The Royal Hungarian who would like to enjoy some sporting of them are the Buda Castle, the University most of the time. The present activities. into three parts. The western is scattered 1000 AD was the first king Saint István Parliament Building, St. István’s name (after the experimental physicist with hills while the eastern is ruled by vast (Stephen) crowned. The Christian state and statesman baron Eötvös Loránd) was plains called the Puszta, perfect for agri- he had established remained a kingdom introduced in 1950, when the faculties had Mentors' and guests' cultural use. Though surrounded by a until 1946. The original crown has a been reorganized. The first Department of accommodation range of mountains in the neighbouring rather peculiar story being lost and found Chemistry was formed in 1770 at the countries, the highest point of Hungary but now it is on display in the Parliament gained some renown outside the borders, University. The present Institute has close Congress Park Hotel Flamenco is centrally called Kékes is only 1014 metres above Building, which is one of the symbols of e.g. Kertész Imre was Nobel Prize winner to 80 faculty members and a similar located first class (four star) hotel in the sea level. Nearby lies the wine area Tokaj Budapest and is a destination of all sight- in 2002. (note that in Hungarian the first number of PhD students. heart of the city with 358 fully equipped, famous for its sweet dessert wine Aszu´, air-conditioned rooms. The building is said to be wine of the kings and king of The Faculty of Sciences moved to a new overlooking a beautiful park with a small the wines. Due to the enclosedness also campus on the west bank of the Danube, lake and is surrounded by the scenic hill- hundreds of plant and animal species live slightly south of the city center in the last sides of southern Buda. uniquely in the basin. In order to protect decade. This will be the venue of most of this diversity 10 national parks and the events of the Olympiad with its class- numerous nature reservation areas have Cathedral, the Opera, the Millennium rooms, conference center and computing been established all over the country. As Monument on Heroes’ Square and its sur- facilities. Laboratory space will be used in you will see, the greatest lake is Balaton, a seeing tours around the city. The history name is written second). The country is roundings, which were constructed in the Institutes of Chemistry and Biology. popular destination point for both of Hungary is characterized by a constant also proud of the achievements of 1896 for the anniversary of the settle- The campus is easily reached from down- Hungarian people and tourists, along struggle between East and West, many Hungarian scientists: Neumann János ment. Though traffic is not the strongest town and from the hotel used by the men- with the largest thermal lake in the battles, invasions and reconstructions, (John von Neumann), Szent-Györgyi point of the city, the public transport is tors on public transport or even on foot. world, Hévíz, where the hot water but in 1989 it was finally declared a Albert, Teller Ede (Edward Teller) to name really convenient with three underground We plan to provide a transit pass to the emerges naturally from the ground. Republic. a few. metro lines, trams and buses. participants accommodated in Budapest. Pictures are a courtesy of Magyar Turizmus Zrt. Fotógaléria Catalyzer 7/6/07 11:25 AM Page 4 40th International Chemistry Olympiad– 2008 Budapest, Hungary 40th IChO tentative program Date Students Mentors and observers Guests July 12th Saturday Whole day Arrivals and registration Morning Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception (ELTE) July 13th Sunday Afternoon Lab safety instruction Lab inspection (ELTE) Excursion Evening Excursion 1st Jury meeting + translation Free time July 14th Monday Whole day ExcursionTranslation Excursion Discussion on theoretical exam July 15th Morning Practical exam 2nd jury meeting Excursion Tuesday Discussion on theoretical exam Afternoon Excursion 2nd jury meeting Excursion July 16th Wednesday Whole day ExcursionTranslation Excursion Morning Theoretical exam Excursion Excursion July 17th Thursday Afternoon Free time Excursion Excursion Evening Re-union party July 18th Whole day Whole day excursion Friday Evening 3rd jury meeting July 19th Saturday Whole day Excursion Arbitration Excursion Morning Free time July 20th Sunday Afternoon Closing ceremony Evening Banquet July 21st Monday Whole day Departures Union.