Chemistry that connects the world
IChO2028 Messina, Italy

Contact Info

Email:

luigi.mondello@unime.it 

atropea@unime.it

About IChO

About IChO

The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)

60 editions in its history

Since 1968

The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) is the most important competition in chemistry for secondary school students on a global scale. Held annually since 1968, the IChO is the international stage where nations around the world come together to discover and nurture their best young talent in chemistry.

The participating students, selected by their national chemistry Olympiad programs, have the unique opportunity to be hosted abroad as part of their national team, along with mentors and observers, to partake in a ten days of theoretical and experimental challenges. The competitions are designed to promote international friendly relations among young chemistry scientists and to encourage all participating countries to maintain a high standard of excellence in their chemistry education programs.

The IChO boasts about 60 editions in its history, bringing together in the latest years approximately 400 participants, coming from about 100 countries. The first edition held in Prague, from 18-21 June 1968, for which the Ministry of Education assumed the role of guarantor of the competition, represents the starting point of this important and waited annual event, attended initially by delegation from Eastern Bloc countries, until 1980 when Austria became the first non-Eastern Bloc nation to host the event.

60

editions

participants

400

100+

countries

International friendly relations among young chemistry scientists

Participants ranking is based on individual scores resulting from their deep knowledge in chemistry, interconnecting chemical concepts ability and and strong practical application skills. Gold medals are awarded to the top 12% of students, silver to the next 22%, and bronze to the following 32%. The top 10% of non-medalists receive honorable mentions. Special awards are given to the students with the highest overall score, as well as to those with the best scores in the theoretical and practical exams.

Bronze
medals

32%

Silver
medals

22%

Gold medals

12%

Not only a competition

A stage for a worldwide cultural and scientific exchange

Over the years, more and more countries have joined the competition, going from 3 in the first edition up to 85 countries in 2024. The IChO is becoming not only an international competition, but also a stage for a worldwide cultural and scientific exchange, dialogue, and discovery, where the competition represents a bridge to award the excellence and stimulate the next chemist generations worldwide.

Excelling at the IChO requires a deep understanding of chemistry, the ability to interconnect different chemical concepts.