For the first time: Israeli representation in the Grand Prix Chimique - a European competition for solving "laboratory" problems

The representative: Liat Meshulami and Odelia Derai, medicinal chemistry students from the Ariel Center for Design and Technology in Samaria for engineering studies

Liat Masholami (Petah Tikva) and Odelia Derai (Kochav Yaakov), a pair of female students from the Medicinal Chemistry Department at the Ariel Center for Design and Technology for Engineering Studies, will represent the State of Israel in an international competition in which the competitors will face off in solving "laboratory" problems.

The Grand Prix Chimique (GPCh) is a competition organized by an international European committee, and takes place once every two years in one of the participating countries, initiated by the Ministry of Education, and in collaboration with a leading institution in the field in the host country. For the first time, Israeli representatives will participate in the program, after a contact was made between the organizers of the upcoming competition, which will be held this year in Germany, and Dr. Mordechai Livna from Bar Ilan University.

The competition is intended for students from professional schools with a chemical orientation, as well as for students in non-academic tracks, with the aim of promoting international relations in chemistry. The competition is aimed at students interested in practical chemistry and provides them with an environment in which independent and creative activity takes place in solving chemical problems in the laboratory, synthesis, testing and identification of substances. The purpose of the GPCh competition, beyond the chemistry in the test tubes, is to create a meeting and acquaintance between students of different nationalities. This is an experiential meeting at the scientific-chemical level, to create chemistry between the participants, to improve and promote relations between youth from different countries, and to encourage international collaborations on a scientific basis.

The countries participating in the competition are: Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and, as mentioned, even a delegation from Israel. The delegation will be accompanied by the head of the major, Odalia Ikon, who will also serve as a judge in the competition.

Dr. Yochaved Panhassi-Adiv, head of the Center for Design and Technology, states with satisfaction: "It is a great privilege for us to represent Israel for the first time in this international competition. I am sure that our delegation will do a good professional job".