The young man conquered the top spot.

"Improving" and "achieving higher results" are the keywords that Dinh Cao Son (born in 2005, from Ha Tinh province) uses to summarize his journey of conquering the field of Chemistry, culminating in his top ranking and Gold Medal at the 2023 International Chemistry Olympiad.

Báo Tiền Phong•15/03/2024

Learn from the people around you.

Dinh Cao Son is currently a student majoring in Chemistry Education at Hanoi University of Education. Son excels in natural sciences , but his greatest passion is Chemistry. His initial knowledge and understanding of his favorite subject came from the reactions between everyday substances. "Witnessing the interesting interactions and transformations between substances made me want to learn more and become more interested in Chemistry," Son said.

Through lectures and practical experiments in class, Son discovered many fascinating aspects of chemistry, equipping him to conquer numerous competitions. His top achievement in the provincial-level chemistry competition in 9th grade and his top entrance exam score for the specialized chemistry class at Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted marked the beginning of a series of outstanding accomplishments throughout his high school years.

Dinh Cao Son, a student from Hanoi Pedagogical University (far left), with other members of the Vietnamese Chemistry team at the 2023 International Chemistry Olympiad. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Speaking about his study methods, Son shared: "I consulted many people, from seniors to peers, learning a little from each to suit myself and the different types of chemistry knowledge. I don't have a fixed study schedule; I usually study whenever I have free time."

Dinh Cao Son (currently a student at Hanoi Pedagogical University) has won numerous awards, including: Second Prize in the National Excellent Student Selection Exam in Chemistry for 11th grade, academic year 2021-2022; First Prize in the National Excellent Student Selection Exam in Chemistry for 12th grade, academic year 2022-2023… Son was awarded the Second Class Labor Medal in 2023.

Faced with difficult exercises or new problems whose theory is unclear, he always maintains a relaxed attitude, dedicating time to researching materials and seeking advice from teachers and friends. When tired, he often rides his bike to relax. "In studying and taking exams, I always aim to improve myself as much as possible to cultivate and supplement my knowledge. After each achievement, I use it as motivation to try harder, to be more successful the next time," Son shared.

Striving to conquer the peak

Of all the competitions he has participated in, Dinh Cao Son was most impressed with the 2023 Chemistry Olympiad held in Switzerland. It wasn't just the competition that brought him the precious Gold Medal, but also the experience of training with members of the Vietnamese chemistry team, and the opportunity to interact and compete with many students from around the world.

During the training camp for the International Chemistry Olympiad, Son and his teammates attended over a hundred theoretical and practical sessions, under the dedicated guidance of leading experts in the field. “The 2023 International Chemistry Olympiad is the first year to include a practical section, which is a significant challenge for Vietnamese contestants. However, our teachers have equipped us with the knowledge and confidence to confidently compete,” Son said.

The male student said that the 2023 International Chemistry Olympiad exam was difficult, with questions addressing many modern scientific issues, such as environmental protection and renewable energy. The problems posed in the exam were novel, requiring candidates to have skills and proficiency in handling experimental equipment and conducting experiments.

Over two days of competition, with 5 hours of work per day, Dinh Cao Son not only won a Gold Medal but also achieved the highest score among the Vietnamese team and ranked 7th out of 348 contestants from 89 countries and territories. Son's achievement, along with that of his teammates (3 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal), contributed to Vietnam's continued top position in the International Chemistry Olympiad, ranking 3rd overall.

Son was quite surprised to be one of the 20 nominees for the Outstanding Young Vietnamese Award 2023 in the field of Academics. "This will be a motivation for me to continue striving to improve myself and achieve new accomplishments," Son added.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/truyen-lua-khat-vong-cong-hien-bai-16-chang-trai-chinh-phuc-top-dau-post1620306.tpo