Four high school students represented the U.S. in the International Chemistry Olympiad, hosted on the campus.

Christopher Hillenbrand’s definition of fun may differ from that of the average student.

He hasn’t spent his summer at the pool or the beach. Instead, the high school sophomore from Mountainside, N.J., spent weeks preparing for the 44th annual International Chemistry Olympiad, hosted by the university, by spending hours on the Internet looking for every chemistry fact out there.

“For a long time, I just really loved chemistry, so to prepare for the Olympiad I would go on Wikipedia and read a ton of stuff for fun,” he said. “It was like a bedtime story for me.”

High-school aged chemistry experts from more than 70 different countries took over the campus for 10 days in late July during the Chemistry Olympiad, which tests students on their knowledge through laboratory exercises and written exams.

This year was the first time in 20 years, and only the second time in the competition’s history, the United States has hosted the Olympiad.

“Hosting this event is not only a big honor for the university, but it also gives us visibility in the international and national spheres that we are a center in chemistry,” said chemistry department Chairman Michael Doyle.

A 14-member scientific committee, made up partly of university professors, created and prepared the lab and written sections for the competition.

University President Wallace Loh kicked off the opening ceremonies July 22 along with Gov. Martin O’Malley, who delivered the keynote speech.

“This was an opportunity for us to highlight the importance of science and the achievements of students in science careers,” O’Malley spokeswoman Raquel Guillory said. “These sorts of events spark curiosity and interest.”

The national team included high school seniors Sidharth Chand and James Deng from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and New Haven, Conn., respectively, Hillenbrand and junior Jason Ge from San Diego.

All entered the competition for the same reason: a love and passion for chemistry.

“In this sort of world that we live in, I find that having the opportunity to challenge yourself on an intellectual level is not only becoming rare but also less appreciated,” said Chand. “This competition is a way in which I can remind myself to try and push my limits.”

“Even if there is a language barrier between people, through chemistry, we can get to know each other,” Deng added.

The American Chemical Society, the competition’s organizer, partnered with the university for the event’s preparation along with the competition’s chief sponsor, the Dow Chemical Company.

Hillenbrand won a gold medal, placing 16th in the overall competition. The rest of the team members won silver medals.

But the best part of the competition wasn’t winning an award, team members said. It was being able to interact with teams from across the globe.

“Chemistry is a science that is universal in the sense that it unites people from all different countries,” Chand said.

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