Golden Performance: Israel's Young Chemists Rank Among the World's Best 

Israel’s Chemistry Olympiad team, jointly operated by the Ministry of Education and the Future Scientists Center of the Maimonides Fund and trained at the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry at the Technion, returned to Israel with an impressive eighth-place overall ranking after earning two gold medals and two silver medals at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), held this year in Uzbekistan. The competition brought together 363 students from 92 countries.

The four members of the Israeli delegation were:

• Itamar Ben Shmuel (Ramat Gan), a 12th-grade student at Hakfar Hayarok High School – Gold Medal
• Yogev Cohen Ben Zaken (Tzoran), a 12th-grade student at Hakfar Hayarok High School – Gold Medal
• Daniel Granovsky (Holon), an 11th-grade student at Pinchas Ayalon High School – Silver Medal
• Yehonadav Marienberg (Mazkeret Batya), an 11th-grade student at Har Etzion Yeshiva in Alon Shvut – Silver Medal

“In just over a week, Israel’s national teams have won 13 Olympiad medals across three different scientific disciplines,” said Minister of Education Yoav Kisch. “This is a clear testament to the depth of excellence that has been built here over many years and to the sustained investment in fostering science education in Israel.”

As is the case every year, the team was trained at the Technion’s Schulich Faculty of Chemistry under the leadership of Academic Director Prof. Zeev Gross and Head Coach Dr. Reut Shapira. The delegation was accompanied by Prof. Zeev Gross, Dr. Eyal Barnea, a Technion alumnus and Chief Chemist at ICL, and Dr. Yury Andreev, a former IChO gold medalist who represented Russia as a student at the Olympiad.

Special thanks also go to the dedicated training team behind this achievement: former Olympiad medalists and instructors Assaf Mauda, Guy Zimmermann, Jonathan Gontmakher, Omer Zachary Ben-Ami, Amit Nevo, Noya Dishon, Itamar Steinitz, Maxim Sebostianov, Dr. Idan Avigdori, educational counselor Shir Kagan, and Youth Programs Coordinator Liat Aviv.

“Before the competition, I spoke with you about this year’s challenge, not only because of the international circumstances, but also because we had set such a high standard last year by finishing among the world’s top ten,” said Prof. Gross. “I am extremely proud that you rose to both challenges. You represented Israel with great honor and earned tremendous respect through your achievements. Two gold medals, two silver medals, and eighth place in the world. Thank you, and congratulations to all of you.”

Yarom Ariav, Chair of the Maimonides Fund’s Future Scientists Center, said: “This summer has been marked by gold medals and groundbreaking achievements for Israel’s national science teams. These accomplishments reflect the exceptional abilities of our talented and outstanding students, who continue to represent the State of Israel with great distinction on the international stage. Their success is a source of both personal and national pride and a reminder that human capital is our greatest asset. We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Education and Israel’s academic institutions in investing in the country’s future.”Photo (left to right): Yehonadav Marienberg, Yogev Cohen Ben Zaken, Dr. Eyal Barnea, Prof. Zeev Gross, Dr. Yury Andreev, Daniel Granovsky, and Itamar Ben Shmuel.

Photo credit: Israel Ministry of Education and the Future Scientists Center.