Trinidad and Tobago has marked a groundbreaking milestone in its academic and youth science history, after 18-year-old Naparima College student Reginald Mohammed secured the country’s first ever medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), bringing home bronze from the 2026 event hosted in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The annual global competition, which ran from July 10 to 19 this year, gathered hundreds of the world’s most talented young chemistry minds from across the globe to test their expertise in two grueling five-hour assessments: one theoretical examination and one practical lab assessment. The tests push participants far beyond standard secondary school chemistry curricula, challenging their advanced content knowledge, critical analytical thinking, and hands-on laboratory skills.
Mohammed, an Upper Six student and head prefect from Debe, was one of four young competitors selected to represent Trinidad and Tobago at this year’s in-person event. The full national team also included Leon Copilah of Iere High School (Upper Six), Soren Narine of Fatima College (Lower Six), and Zeeshaan Lall, a Form Five student also representing Naparima College. The team was led by head mentor Dr Denise Beckles, a chemistry lecturer at The University of the West Indies (UWI), which oversaw pre-competition training for all national qualifiers.
This medal win caps years of steady growth for Trinidad and Tobago’s national IChO program. The country made its competition debut with a virtual entry in 2021, followed by in-person delegations to the 2023 Olympiad in Switzerland and the 2025 event in the United Arab Emirates, before claiming its first historic medal in 2026.
Speaking to local outlet *Trinidad Express* via WhatsApp on Sunday, just hours before the team boarded their return flight to Trinidad and Tobago, Mohammed called his win a long-awaited dream come true. “Elated — it was always a personal goal of mine to represent T&T on the international stage, at an Olympiad,” he shared. “I was confident in my ability, having taken part in the TT Chemistry Olympiad for many years, and all the faculty at UWI and my teachers in school and family believed that I could achieve a medal, which gave me the extra push.”
Mohammed explained that preparation for the competition required far more work than standard secondary school coursework, as the IChO covers advanced chemistry topics far outside the standard high school curriculum. To prepare, he maintained a daily routine of working through past competition papers and expanding his knowledge across all branches of chemistry, rather than focusing on only one subfield. “It was a lot of work … But ultimately, I’m happy that my dream to represent T&T internationally and to win a medal came true,” he added.
Following the conclusion of this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams, Mohammed and the entire national team participated in an intensive daily training program hosted by the UWI Department of Chemistry, where coaches covered both theoretical frameworks and hands-on practical lab skills needed to compete at the global level.
Selection for the T&T national IChO team is an extremely competitive process that begins months in advance. Each year, the local Trinidad and Tobago Chemistry Olympiad (TTChO) opens its first-round competition to all secondary school students across the country every December, with two divisions: Level A for Forms One through Five, and Level B for Form Six students. The top 10 scorers from each division advance to a two-week virtual training program led by UWI chemistry faculty, after which finalists sit a second-round examination in May. Only the top four performers earn the chance to represent the country at the international competition.
Naparima College formally announced Mohammed’s historic achievement on the school’s official social media pages, extending enthusiastic congratulations to the entire team and supporting staff. The institution called the win a truly landmark milestone for both the school and the entire nation, noting that the program’s success has been six years in the making.
“Naparima College is proud to announce a truly historic milestone! We were honoured to receive a congratulatory call from Dr Terry Mohammed of the Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, celebrating an extraordinary achievement by our students and staff!” the post read. “Master Reginald Mohammed, our Head Prefect, has earned Trinidad and Tobago’s first-ever medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)—a landmark achievement for our nation, The University of the West Indies, and Naparima College!”
The school also recognized Lall, the second Naparima College student on the national team, noting that his selection as a Form Five competitor was an outstanding achievement in its own right. “With more opportunities ahead, this is just the start of an exciting journey for Zeeshaan!” the post added.
The institution went on to trace the program’s growth back to 2020, when Dipak Balladin captured the first national TTChO title, marking the start of Naparima College’s Olympiad journey. After national delegations in 2021 and 2025, Mohammed’s 2026 medal win has cemented this moment as a historic turning point for science education in the country. “This accomplishment at the International Chemistry Olympiad is the culmination of years of dedication and excellence,” the school wrote. “Today, in 2026, Reginald Mohammed has etched his name in history by becoming our country’s first International Chemistry Olympiad medallist!”
The post credited the historic win to the consistent hard work of students, school faculty, and the Naparima College Science Department, which has spent years nurturing young scientific talent. “This remarkable success reflects the unwavering commitment, perseverance and hard work of our students, teachers and the entire Science Department, who have consistently pursued excellence and inspired generations of young scientists,” the statement read. “On behalf of the Naparima College family, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Master Reginald Mohammed, our Olympiad team, our dedicated Science Department, and everyone who contributed to this historic achievement. History has been made, and Naparima College is immensely proud! Congratulations once again to everyone involved!”