Minister Claude Meisch with International Olympaid participants; Credit: MENEJ

On Tuesday 11 September 2018 at the Lycée de Garçons in Luxembourg (LGL), the students who had taken part in the international Olympiads in the fields of mathematics, computer science and natural sciences were honoured in the presence of Luxembourg's Minister of National Education, Children and Youth, Claude Meisch.

After the opening of the festivities by the LGL's director, Frank Eyschen, the three associations organising these Olympiads, the Luxembourg Olympiad of Natural Sciences (OLSN), the Luxembourg Association of Mathematicians (AML) and the Lëtzebuerger Informatiksolympiad (LIO), presented the 24 Luxembourg representatives to the various international competitions, as well as their respective results.

The Minister then took the floor to congratulate the participants, while encouraging them to continue to develop their interest in these areas of the future, and even to pursue higher education in these essential subjects for the future of society.

National and international Olympiads

It was during national Olympiads that the best students of each discipline won their ticket to represent Luxembourg at the international Olympics, which took place abroad between April and September 2018. During their stay, teachers or other specialists accompanied and coached them.

The Olympiads are scientific competitions for upper secondary school students. Their purpose is to promote and encourage the interest of high school students in science subjects. These competitions examine students' skills in solving problems and in carrying out practical experiences. In addition to the specific interest in the subject, inventiveness, creativity and perseverance are necessary to succeed.

As with any international competition, the level of the Olympics is very high. The participants are very ambitious. Although it is often difficult for Luxembourgish representatives to compete with the Americans and Asians, no participant has been unworthy. Many were able to win a medal or honourable mention.