Alex Liu of Houston, Texas, brings home gold medal from International Chemistry Olympiad

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2016 — National chemistry whiz Alex Liu, a rising junior from The Village School in Houston, Texas, earned eighth highest ranking GOLD medal at the 48th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO). In total, the U.S. Alpha Iota team earned one gold, two silvers and a bronze medal.

Liu competed with 263 students from 66 countries for gold, silver and bronze medals, July 23 – Aug. 1. During these 10 days of exams, laboratory work, athletics and sightseeing, he had a chance to compete at the highest levels and establish friendships that go beyond cultures and borders. 

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 American Chemical Society has sponsored the American team annually since the U.S. joined the Olympiad in 1984. Principal funding is through the ACS Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Olympiad Endowment, with additional support from the Advanced Chemistry Development; Carolina Biological Supply Company; Cengage Learning; Fisher Science Education;  Flinn Scientific Inc.; Prentice Hall Publishers; Sigma Aldrich Co.; Texas Instruments Inc.; University Science Books; University of Mary Washington; and Wiley & Sons Publishers.

The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With nearly 157,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.