BE THE CHEMIST IF YOU DARE!

Our phenomenal scientist teams from Year 7 competed yet again in a worldwide competition and we have some fantastic news to share - we have international winners! We grabbed some of their time to interview them all, along with their mentor, Ms Maričić.

First of all, congratulations on your amazing success at Be the Chemist competition! I hope you can answer some questions for our school newsletter. Here they are:

BZ: Ms Maričić, this is not the first time that our students have participated in Be the Chemist competition, right? Could you tell us a bit more about the competition and our Bright Horizons history at this competition?

This is our 5th year to take part in the competition. And the second time that our students were International champions. 

The purpose of this competition  is to inspire young minds through chemistry! The You Be the Chemist Challenge is a dynamic academic competition that celebrates students’ passion for science, encouraging critical thinking, teamwork, and a love for learning in a fun, competitive format.

The You Be the Chemist Challenge is a national, team-based academic competition that invites students in grades 5–8 to explore the wonders of chemistry and science. Through local and regional competitions, students collaborate to solve real-world problems, demonstrate scientific knowledge, and sharpen their critical thinking and communication skills. Sponsored by the Chemical Educational Foundation (CEF), the Challenge brings educators, industry professionals, and communities together to support and celebrate young scientists.

BZ: Klara, congratulations! How excited were you all to await the results? 

Once we submitted the video I was impatient and awaiting the results, however during and after Easter break, I'll admit that I forgot about it a little. When the results came back, I remembered again and was excited.

BZ: Petra, can you tell us a bit about the task - what was the task and how did you prepare?

The task was to research about a natural disaster in your local area, provide a solution on how to stop or prevent it, and to make a video, explaining how the natural disaster would be stopped. Our team did a lot of research and we had a notebook where we wrote down all the information and steps on how to achieve stopping the natural disaster.

BZ: Maja, who on the team did what? Was there a role distribution or did you all do everything?

We didn’t do a role distribution, but Josip was the editor for the video and everyone worked on the video and research equally.

BZ: Josip, did you expect such amazing success? What did you know about the competition?

I had a feeling we were going to do well but not this well. I was surprised when I saw the results. I knew a lot about this competition because my sister was also the international champion two years ago.

BZ: Klara, can you tell us a bit about the Phoenix project?

Our aim is to stop wildfires from spreading, we used teamwork and dedication to make it happen. It's a product made of a mix of sodium bicarbonate and salt to suffocate the fire.

BZ: Petra, which part of the project was the most interesting one for you?

The most interesting part of the project for me was making the video. It was fun to plan out and record our information, and we had fun making the video. It turned out great and I’m so happy I was part of this project.

BZ: Maja, if you could participate again, would you and why?

Yes, I would participate again because it’s a very enjoyable experience. Another reason is you learn a lot from it. You learn about time management and the general topic that you are covering for the competition.

BZ: Josip, what is your message to our younger pupils who are perhaps still not taking science at school and are slightly anxious about it?

In science there is going to be a lot of tests, so you have to study a lot. But when you actually understand what you are studying, it becomes really easy. You are also going to have to make presentations, which is easier than tests. The quizzes are the hardest, because there are no practice tests. In conclusion, you shouldn't be anxious about science, because it is easy.

BZ: Ms Maričić, how does it make you feel when you see students so eager to participate in a science challenge like this?

I am really happy to see that spark and curiosity in their eyes. For me as a teacher, it means that I have truly done my job - inspiring them to love learning and explore science with passion.

Congratulations to everyone on this phenomenal achievement! If you'd like to watch the winning video, check out this link.