The Czech Republic and Slovakia hosted the 50^th International Chemistry Olympiad through the latter half of July. 76 countries and regions sent over 300 competitors came to compete before the Chinese team won four gold medals. They won golds in individual experiments, knowledge of theory and overall score. The Chinese team members included students from Shenzhen, Changsha, Dezhou and Zhengzhou. After competing calmly and patiently throughout all the rounds, the team won gold medals in all events. They received their medals from Academician Zhou Qifeng of the Chinese Academy of Science and chairman of the International Federation of Pure and Applied Chemistry at the closing ceremony.

Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) was honored to host the 31^st China Chemistry Olympiad and Winter Camp earlier this year. In November 2017, SUSTech hosted the experimental examinations, with 340 high school students competing for 104 gold medals. This was followed in March this year of a two-week national team trial, where the four national team representatives were selected. Nie Yichen, Qin Junlong, Chen Qingyu, and Wang Chenyu attended a two-week pre-competition training course in the Department of Chemistry from late June to early July, in order to prepare for the International Chemistry Olympiad.

Introduction to the International Chemistry Olympiad

The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) is the largest and most influential school chemistry competition in the world. Since the first competition was held in the Czech Republic in 1968, it has been held once a year, except for one year of suspension in 1971. Only three countries participated in the first competition, the number of participating countries has increased. Now more than 80 countries and regions have participated in this event. Each team consists of 4 students and 2 tutors, one of whom is the leader. Each team can also have a guest and a scientific observer. Students must be no more than 20 years of age and must not have a formal status higher than secondary education.

The competition consists of two parts: a theoretical component and an experimental component. The two-part competition is limited to five hours, and they are not held on the same day. The theoretical part accounts for 60% of the total score, and the experimental part accounts for 40% of the total score.

Participants will be ranked according to their individual performance. The first 10%±2% of all contestants won the gold medal, 20%±2% won the silver medal and 30%±2% won the bronze medal. Participants will receive an honorary prize, and those who score the highest score in the theoretical or experimental part will receive a special prize.