"Change, Creation, Fusion": German team wins two silver and two bronze medals at the 54th International Chemistry Olympiad 2022

The 54th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) was hosted by the host country China from July 10^th -18^th , 2022, under the theme "Change, Creation, Fusion." Due to the pandemic, the event was held online. Three hundred and sixty-six students from 81 countries and one observing nation participated. At the same time, cross-national face-to-face events were held for the first time this year.

Representing the German national team, Mats Budäus (Gymnasium Oberursel), Tim Enders (Goetheschule Ilmenau), Frederike Saal (Latina August Herrmann Francke Landesgymnasium Halle/Saale) and Felix Schubert (Albert-Schweitzer-Gymnasium Erfurt) participated in the IChO.

The teams from Austria, Switzerland and Germany (DACH) met in Basel to enjoy some international flair. After two years of Remote Olympiad, the participants could meet other young chemistry enthusiasts for the first time, get to know each other and exchange ideas in person. On the premises of the University of Basel, the DACH participants completed a five-hour online exam together, in which they had to solve challenging tasks from inorganic, physical and organic chemistry. The topics included, for example, how COVID-19 rapid tests work, chromium in ancient and modern times, and spirocyclic catalysts. A varied excursion program rounded off the DACH meeting and took the participants to Basel, Freiburg and Bern, to name but a few.

At the end of the competition, the German national team could celebrate four medals: Frederike Saal and Felix Schubert each won bronze, Mats Budäus and Tim Enders were happy about silver.

Dr. Uta Purgahn (Albert-Schweitzer-Gymnasium Erfurt) and Kasimir M. Philipp (Förderverein Chemie-Olympiade e.V. [FChO] and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) were responsible for the on-site supervision and the examination. Dr. Frank Witte (IChO competition director) and Dr. Felicitas Niekiel (International Junior Science Olympiad [IJSO] competition director) from the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) and Maximilian Fellert (University of Groningen and FChO) traveled to Basel as mentors and scientific observers.

The team of the Chemistry Olympiad in Germany would like to thank the Förderverein Chemie-Olympiade e.V. for their special commitment as well as the whole supervising team in Basel, the University of Basel and especially the Prof. Dr. Jonathan De Roo group. Last but not least, thanks go to the organizing team from China: Xie Xie!

The annual selection competition for the International Chemistry Olympiad, the Chemistry Olympiad in Germany, is organized by the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) in Kiel on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and in cooperation with the Ministries of Education and Cultural Affairs of the German states. Further information at www.chemieolympiade.de.

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