History of icho

History of the IChO

The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) is an annual competition that brings together the world’s most talented secondary school chemistry students. Each participating nation sends a team of four students who compete in a rigorous five-hour laboratory practical exam and a separate five-hour theoretical exam, with the practical examination typically preceding the theoretical one.

Each national delegation consists of up to four students and two mentors, one of whom serves as the head mentor. Additional guests and scientific observers may also accompany the delegation. The IChO is designed to foster interest in chemistry by challenging students with complex and creative chemical problems. Beyond the competition, it aims to promote international collaboration, build friendships among young scientists from different countries, and facilitate the exchange of scientific and educational expertise.

The concept of the IChO originated informer Czechoslovakia in 1968, with the inaugural event held in Prague from June 18–21 of that year. Since then, the Olympiad has been held annually, except in 1971. Initially, participating delegations were primarily from Eastern Bloc countries, but in 1980, Austria became the first non-Eastern Bloc nation to host the event.

To join the IChO, new countries must send observers to two consecutive Olympiads before their students can compete. Today, more than 80 nations participate.

Participants are ranked based on their individual scores rather than as teams. Gold medals are awarded to the top 12%of students, silver to the next 22%, and bronze to the following 32%. The top10% of non-medalists receive honorable mentions. Special awards are given to the student with the highest overall score, as well as to those with the best scores in the theoretical and practical exams.

Excelling at the IChO requires a deep understanding of chemistry, the ability to interconnect different chemical concepts, and strong practical application skills. The competition not only rewards excellence but also inspires future generations of chemists worldwide.