(L-R): Jeff An, Spencer Zhao, Alexander Cui and Scott Xiao were medal winners at the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad in Azerbaijan. Photo credit: Andy Dick
Canadian high school students brought home two silver medals and two bronze medals from the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), held July 20-29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Scott Xiao of Burnaby North Secondary School won a silver medal and placed 36th in the world. The team captain for Canada, Xiao was one place away from earning a gold medal, the best performance by a Canadian student in four years.
Three University of Toronto Schools students also won medals. Alexander Cui also took a silver while Spencer Zhao and Jeff An both won bronze.
The Canadian team competed against 79 other participating countries. Andy Dicks of the University of Toronto Department of Chemistry and Ken Hoffman of Rocky View Schools in Airdrie, Alta. were Olympiad mentors.
Canada’s brightest young chemists will continue to compete for their country at future IChOs with the help of Blachford Inc., which recently joined the Olympiad as a platinum sponsor.