Two High School South students will compete for a spot on the four-person U.S. team in the 38th annual International Chemistry Olympiad in Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea, to be held in July. Sofia Ismailov, a junior, and Peter Wei, a senior, are among the six New Jersey students attending a study camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.##M:[more]##
They are among the 20 chosen from a pool of close to 10,”000 high school students nationwide. The students will receive college-level training with an emphasis on organic chemistry through a series of lectures, problem-solving exercises, lab work, and testing.
At the end of the session, a four-person team will be named to participate in the international contest with teams from more than 60 other countries. Each country sends four contestants and two coaches for seven to ten days of exams, lectures, recreation, and tours.
The International Chemistry Olympiad originated with Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Hungary in 1968. The first U.S. team competed in 1984, winning one silver and two bronze medals. The American Chemical Society sponsors the U.S. team.
