First High School Chemistry Olympics Set at A&M International

What has more than its fair share of tubes, a number of elements, must race against itself and is bound to create a reaction?

That would be the first High School Chemistry Olympics at Texas A&M International University which plans to attract over 100 competitors for the premiere event Saturday, April 26 from 8:30-1:00 p.m. at Canseco Hall.

The competition is sponsored by the A&M International College of Science and Technology's Department of Natural Sciences and the Laredo Association of Chemistry Teachers.

Dr. Anusree Ganguly, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at A&M International, said the event will be a fun competition that will test students' scientific mettle with a number of events.

"We're looking forward to welcoming students to our state-of-the- art facilities in the recently dedicated Canseco Hall and to providing an exciting competition that offers equal parts of mental challenge and great fun," Dr. Ganguly said.

The event will begin with registration on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in Canseco Hall 101. Opening ceremonies will follow at 9 a.m. with a written competition scheduled to start at 9:20. Team competitions will begin at 10:25 to be followed by titration races.

Titration is a process by which the concentration of a substance in solution is determined by adding to it a standard reagent of known concentration in carefully measured amounts until a reaction of definite and known proportion is completed.

The final competition will be a qualitative analysis at 11:30 a.m. An awards ceremony will be held at 12:15.

Ganguly said the competition also offers students an important opportunity in terms of exposure to the University's recently launched Bachelor's degree program in Chemistry.

"This is a great way for students to preview our program and our resources at the University. We truly appreciate the innovation and insight that has come from the Laredo Association of Chemistry Teachers and its president, Mario Rosales and our University team that includes Dr. Juan Homero Hinojosa, Chair of the Department of Natural Sciences, and Oscar Munoz, Director of Continuing Education," she said.

Ganguly noted organizers believe the event has also afforded the University an opportunity to form pivotal linkages with chemistry instructors and members of the local science community.

"This has been a tremendous networking experience for us and we believe we have formed some important communication links that will help us to continue to serve as a local resource to our high school counterparts and their students," Ganguly said.

For more information on the first High School Chemistry Olympics at Texas A&M International University, please contact the Department of Natural Sciences at the College of Science and Technology at 326 -2445 or the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at 326 - 2180.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu