“It was the first time I spent the majority of my week outside Noyemberyan. It was the first time I made friends outside of my school and outside my neighborhood. It was the first time I met with dedicated scholars and scientists, and it was the first time I saw the pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies at the Scientific Technological Center of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry NAS RA.”
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18-year-old Serob Harutyunyan lists a series of firsts he experienced at the STEM camp he attended from July 21 to 27. Along with 27 other high schoolers, he earned this opportunity by excelling in the FAR-supported chemistry and physics Olympiads in the Berd, Ijevan, and Noyemberyan regions.
For the second year running, the Science Camp, implemented in collaboration with the "Hzor Mitk” (Strong Mind) NGO as part of the FAR STEM program, gathered a group of high schoolers from Tavush Province, Armenia. They spent an engaging and educational week at the Students House of Yerevan,
Serob was the only participant from his school and achieved second place in both biology and chemistry. “I didn’t know that winning the Olympiad would grant me the opportunity to attend a STEM camp. Learning that afterward made me really happy. The camp offered an immersive, hands-on learning experience. We actively participated in experiments, activities, and games, engaged with ANSEF scholars, learned best practices from ASOF Math Honor beneficiaries, and visited science labs, IT, and business centers. It exceeded my expectations,” says Serob who will soon begin his first year at Yerevan State Medical University.
Since the 10th grade, Serob has contemplated his future profession and ultimately decided to become a surgeon—the first in his family. Visiting the Institute of Organic Chemistry was a jaw-dropping experience for him, as it brought the theory he learned to life.
“Practical experience is invaluable; theory alone can’t take you far. If theory is 20 percent, practical experience is 80 percent. My biggest takeaway from this science camp is the reassurance that chemistry and biology are evolving fields with plenty of opportunities. A good specialist will always be in demand. I must strive to become a good specialist and be in demand,” he concluded.
The Science Camp was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Yeramyan Family Foundation.
By donating to FAR today, you can help bright young minds like Serob's from Armenia's remote communities dive into the exciting world of STEM.
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