Talented students make US team for International Chemistry Olympiad

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Four high school students have risen to the top in chemistry achievements and will represent the U.S. at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) next month at the University of Maryland, College Park. The four-member team and two alternates are:

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120628/DC32841)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120614/DC25156LOGO)

*participated in the 2011 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad study camp
**participated in the 2010 and 2011 National Chemistry Olympiad study camps

The U.S. team will compete with others from more than 70 countries, for gold, silver and bronze medals, July 21-30. The American Chemical Society (ACS) is the official organizer and The Dow Chemical Company is the official sponsor of the international event.

Competition for the U.S. team was intense. It started in the spring when more than 14,000 chemistry students took a rigorous exam in schools across the country. About 1,000 of them advanced to take the national exam for the Chemistry Olympiad, and the top 20 went on to a two-week study camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. At the conclusion, the U.S. team and two alternates were selected.

"This year is especially important to the team because, for only the second time in IChO history, the Olympiad will be held in the U.S.," said ACS president Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, Ph.D.  "It's a great honor for us to be the host country for this Olympics of the mind, especially at a time when a scientifically trained workforce is so critical to our future. We also appreciate the U.S. Senate demonstrating the importance of this Olympiad by passing, with unanimous consent, Senate Resolution 491 recognizing the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad." (Watch it on CSPAN.)

Edited Video from Olympiad Study Camp (Streaming)
https://vimeo.com/44535290

B-Roll and Student Interview files: https://studio2020.sharefile.com/d/s3dbe1adfe4f45878 and http://bit.ly/IChObootcamp

SOURCE American Chemical Society