The four-member Israeli team to the Chemistry Olympics, which took place in Cambridge, England, succeeded in winning one gold and one bronze medal. This is the best achievement by an Israeli team since Israel began participating in the Olympics four years ago. In the first year, the team won a bronze medal and in the second year – a silver and a bronze. Last year, the team returned with one silver and two bronze medals.
The winner of the gold medal is Asaf Maude, 16, from Pardes Hannah. The winner of the bronze medal is the youngest member of the Israeli team – Evitar Dagani, 15. The two are both from the Hadera High School.
Asaf is studying in the computers and physics tracks. He has two sisters and one brother. Both his parents are physical education teachers in the state religious school in Or Akiva.
At the end of the 8th grade, Asaf completed the matriculation exam in math with a grade of 100. His school principal recommended that he join the Archimedes Project at the Technion’s Schulich Faculty of Chemistry. Despite his young age, Mira Katz, projects director in the Technion’s Faculty of Chemistry, explained that, in the Archimedes Project, 10th grade students study for an academic degree in the Faculty in parallel to their high school studies. They receive transportation to the Technion and pay a subsidized tuition fee. Prof. Gabriel Kventsel is the academic director of both Archimedes and the Chimiada – a national Israeli competition in chemistry held annually with the participation of some 6,000 students from all over the country.
Two other members of the Israeli team, Moshe Mikhashvilli and Neta Caspin, also had impressive achievements and were within reach of a bronze medal. The team was accompanied by Prof. Asher Schmidt from the Technion’s Schulich Faculty of Chemistry and Dr. Iris Barzilai, laboratory director.
This is the second year that Asaf Maude has taken part in the Chemistry Olympics, in which there were more than 280 participants from 70 countries. Last year, he won the silver medal.
“I want to finish high school with all my friends,” says Asaf. “I am not in a hurry. I also take part in a close combat course, play soccer and go out with friends. My studies are easy for me and I hope that they will continue to be so. I plan to go to the Technion when I finish high school or after my military service.”
The dean of the Technion’s Faculty of Chemistry, Moris Eisen, praised the team, its instructors and chaperones on their great achievement. |