’It’s fun but not a game’

Wendelin Stark and Nevena Paunovic (Photo: ETH Zurich). Professor Wendelin Stark and Nevena Paunovic were both chemistry Olympians. In 2023, they will return to the Olympiad in new roles: the former as the head of the IChO Scientific Committee and the latter as a startup founder. In this interview, they reveal how the Olympiad has influenced their lives and careers, and what participants can expect from the host country and the competition. When former Chemistry Olympians meet, it's not hard to start a conversation since everyone has personal stories to share. What is your favorite story? Nevena Paunovic (NP) : The Olympiad was the first time I experienced lab work in an advanced setting, and I really loved it. I felt like a detective with only a limited time to find clues.