Ladue Student to Compete for a Spot on US International Chemistry Olympiad Team

National chemistry champion Runpeng Liu has qualified to compete for one of four spots on the U.S. team bound for the 44th annual International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO).  A sophomore at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, he is one of only 20 students nation-wide invited to a two-week intensive study camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. 

The competition to be part of the international event is fierce; beginning with a three-part exam taken by at least 12,000 high school students in the U.S.  Runpeng’s performance on this exam resulted in the opportunity to take the National Chemistry Olympiad test. Out of more than 1,000 of the nation’s brightest chemistry students who took the national test, he advanced to the top 20 and next he will be heading to the study camp being held June 5-20.

During the camp, Runpeng 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 camp’s conclusion, four students will be chosen to represent the U.S. at the International Chemistry Olympiad where they will compete with their peers from more than 70 nations for gold, silver and bronze medals.

This year, for the first time since 1992, the U.S. will host the International Chemistry Olympiad, to be held July 21-30, at the University of Maryland, College Park. ACS is the official organizer and The Dow Chemical Company is the official sponsor of the overall international event.