Israelis score silver, bronze medals at International Chemistry Olympiad

Israeli high school students performed well this year in international math and physics competitions, and it turns out they're not bad at chemistry, either: The four-member Israeli delegation to the International Chemistry Olympiad in Tbilisi, Georgia, brought home one silver and one bronze medal.

Ron Solan, a student at Rishonim High School in Herzliya, captured the silver, while Rina Sevostianov, a student at the Mekif Gimmel High School in Ashdod, took home a bronze medal. The team trained for the competition at the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.

Solan is not the first member of his family to earn a medal at an international science competition. His father, Eilon Solan, 48, a professor at the School of Mathematical Sciences at Tel Aviv University, serves as the academic adviser to the Israeli delegation to the International Mathematics Olympiad. Two weeks ago in Hong Kong, the Israeli team earned six medals -- three silver and three bronze.

In July 2013, Ron's older brother, Omri, won a gold medal at the International Mathematics Olympiad in Colombia and was ranked fifth among the 600 competitors. Ron said, "There's a bit of a sense of missed opportunity, but I'm very happy I won a silver medal."

A total of 66 countries sent teams to the International Chemistry Olympiad. Israel ranked 20th overall, and second among the Western nations that participated, after the U.S. The Romanian team won first place overall, followed by China in both second and third place.

"Time and again, Israeli students bring honor and pride to Israel in international science competitions," Education Minister Naftali Bennett said Tuesday.