UMD Hosts Olympics of the Mind: International Chemistry Olympiad

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The University of Maryland hosts the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) on July 21-30, 2012. This is only the second time the International Chemistry Olympiad has been held in the United States and the first time in 20 years.

The competition pits the very best high school chemistry students from nearly 70 countries in a practical laboratory challenge and written exam. Each team of up to four students was chosen through a series of national competitions.

University of Maryland President Wallace Loh will welcome the Olympiad participants at the opening ceremonies on Sunday, July 22 and Maryland Govenor Martin O'Malley will deliver the keynote presentation.

"Hosting an event of this quality is not only an honor, but something that comes naturally to us as an international innovation and entrepreneurship university," says Loh. "These are some of the brightest young people in the world, and a number of them will go on to important scientific careers. Our nation's economic future depends on our ability to nurture and advance talented students of this caliber."

Competition events will take place at various University of Maryland sites, including its suite of chemistry labs, all new or newly renovated. Led by UMD, the event's 14-member scientific committee has worked for more than two years to draft test questions for both the theoretical and practical examswhich together serve as the centerpiece of the event, according to committee co-chair Michael P. Doyle, who is a professor and chair of the department of chemistry and biochemistry at the university.

"The preparation, dedication and level of challenge that goes into this competition is truly of an Olympic character," says Doyle. "I promise you that college students and even faculty would be challenged by the tests and laboratory work we're asking of these high school students."

His co-chair on the scientific steering committee, Andrei Vedernikov, a UMD chemistry professor, competed as a Russian high school student 34 years ago, winning a gold medal. "This competition was a turning point for me," Vedernikov remembers. "It's where I decided how I could best contribute to science."

Doyle and Vedernikov note that Chemistry is a particularly vital field in terms of scientific research and national competitiveness, since it is a fundamental component of so many other disciplines, with wide applications in pharmaceuticals, electronics, energy research, and climate change, for example.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is the official organizer of this Olympics of the mind; The Dow Chemical Company is its official sponsor.

The U.S. team members are Jason Ge from Westview High School in San Diego; Sidharth Chand from Detroit Country Day School in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; Christopher Hillenbrand from Regis High School in New York City; and James Deng from Choate Rosemary Hall School in New Haven, Conn. Meet the team in this 2.5 minute ACS video.

"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."

"At Dow, with more than 100 years of investment in STEM education programs, we know that innovation begins not only in the classroom but also in personal imagination," said Bo Miller, Global Director for Corporate Citizenship for The Dow Chemical Company and President and Executive Director of The Dow Chemical Company Foundation. "We are excited to use the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad as an opportunity to engage and inspire bright young scientists from across the globe to pursue careers in chemistry as a means of creating solutions to challenges that affect our planet, our communities and improve the human condition."

The IChO originated with Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary in 1968. Soon, other Eastern European countries joined the event; Western Europe began participating in 1974. The first U.S. team competed in 1984, winning one silver and two bronze medals. The U.S. is routinely a strong performer. Last year's team brought home two gold and two silver medals. In 1999 and 2000, a member of the American team won the top gold medal.

Opening ceremonies: Sunday, July 22, 2012, 10 a.m. till approx. 11:30 a.m.
Full competition schedule: http://ter.ps/120
Dekelboum Concert Hall, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
University of Maryland, College Park 20742
Directions and Parking: http://ter.ps/123

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