Four Paraguayan students will represent the country at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), one of the world’s most prestigious science competitions for secondary school students. The 2026 edition will take place in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. From 10 to 19 July, it will mark the first time the Central Asian nation hosts the event.
More than 90 countries will send delegations of four students. Participants will face demanding theoretical examinations and practical laboratory tests designed to assess advanced chemistry knowledge and problem-solving skills.
Competition and Paraguayan delegation
The Paraguayan delegation consists of Freddy Ezequiel Vega Zárate from the Technical Training Centre (CETEC); Lara María Sosa Fernández from Colegio Nacional Asunción Escalada (CNAE); Pedro Ezequiel Núñez Paredes from Colegio Técnico Nacional de la Capital (CTN); and Valentina Calvo Bitancourt, a graduate of Colegio del Sol.
The four students secured their places after completing a rigorous national selection process that included both theoretical and experimental assessments. Their qualification represents a significant achievement for science education in Paraguay and reflects years of preparation, discipline, and dedication.
A project built through public higher education
Paraguay’s presence at the International Chemistry Olympiad is no coincidence. Behind each participation lies sustained work led by students, lecturers, and researchers from the Faculty of Chemical Sciences at the National University of Asunción (FCQ-UNA).
The initiative began in 2017 through the faculty’s student association. Since then, they have prepared young Paraguayans to compete on the international stage. As a result of those efforts, Paraguay officially joined the Olympiad circuit. The country has participated continuously since 2022, first in virtual editions. Later, in person in Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Mentors from the National Chemistry Olympiad Training Programme (Pinol) devote hundreds of hours to preparing the students. In addition to advanced chemistry classes, participants receive specialised laboratory training at FCQ-UNA to meet the demands of a competition widely regarded as one of the most challenging in school-level science.
For the members of the Paraguayan delegation, however, the greatest challenge does not lie solely in the laboratory. Travelling to Uzbekistan involves covering the cost of flights, accommodation, and other expenses associated with a journey of more than 14,000 kilometres from Paraguay. To make the trip possible, the students, together with their families and mentors, have launched a range of fundraising initiatives.
Much more than a competition
Since its creation in 1968, the International Chemistry Olympiad has become one of the most important platforms for scientific exchange among young people. Beyond medals and rankings, the event gives participants the opportunity to meet students from different cultures. Additionally, to build connections that often mark the beginning of future scientific careers.
For Paraguay, each participation is an opportunity to showcase the talent of its students on a global stage. With only a few weeks remaining before the journey to Tashkent, the four members of the Paraguayan delegation continue preparing for one of the greatest challenges of their lives. Their presence in Uzbekistan will be the result of years of study, the dedication of their mentors, and the support of a community determined to see Paraguay strengthen its place within the international scientific arena.
The Paraguayan team has a clear goal. To carry the Paraguayan flag onto one of the world’s most important scientific stages.
