The American Chemical Society (ACS) is excited to announce that Team USA earned three gold and one silver medal at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, held from July 10 - July 19. The students who represented Team USA were Enzhi Chen (Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science), Ethan Cho (BASIS Scottsdale), Alex Dong (Shanghai High School International Division), and Liran Zhu (Troy High School).
Margaret Thatcher/ACS
This year's competition had students from more than 90 countries participate. Of the 108 participants, 363 earned a gold, silver or bronze medal. Overall, Team USA had an impressive performance. Zhu placed 6th worldwide and earned the top score on the practical (laboratory) exam.
The team was supported by head mentor Komal Jain (Lake Braddock Secondary School), college mentors Borislava Bekker (American River College) and Monica Arroyo (Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico), and high school mentor Steve Lantos (Brookline High School). ACS has sponsored the U.S. team annually since the country joined the Olympiad in 1984.
The International Chemistry Olympiad 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.
