Nineteen teams (38 students) from nine area high schools competed in the “Battle of Burets”. The event was hosted for the third year in a row at SIU–Edwardsville.
A new order of battle pertained to this year’s “hostilities,” allowing students to compete with their partner. Each team completed six titrations which were scored on relative error. The top six teams received trophies and a round of applause from the other participants.
Clayton High School and teacher Nathan Peck really excelled this year, sweeping the top three spots (with one tie)! In first place were Jolie Chan and Elizabeth Nguyen; second place, Caroline Thomason and San Kwon; and third place Lisa Raymond-Schmidt and Julia Beliz. Blake Selm and Abdullah Kuziez of Parkway High School tied for third place.
In a photo finish, the Villa Duchesne team of Tess Hagemeister and Cecilia Besancenez, under the tutelage of Kirsten Blasé and Didi Noelker; and the two teams from Edwardsville High School (Grant Berkbigler/Ryan Shustrin and DeVonte Fuller/Lindsey Hohlt) with their teacher, Grace Bannon, tied for fourth place. You would think this all but impossible, like a termolecular elementary process, but the finish was just too close to call. Congratulations to all the participants!
The battle in full swing: furious burets everywhere you look
Who says chemists don’t have a sense of style?
First-place finishers Elizabeth Nguyen and Jolie Chan with their best, palest pink endpoint
We (Mina Sumita and Kevin Tucker, organizers) have shared our photo stream, in case you want to see more from the field of battle and treaty negotiations. Follow the link, double-click on the first file, and use right and left arrows (keyboard or on-screen hotspots) to navigate through the show.
Kevin Tucker, SIU–Edwardsville
Guest author: Kevin Tucker
Dr Kevin Tucker received his PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign under the supervision of Prof Jonathan Sweedler. After five years as a mass spectrometrist, he moved to Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry. Dr Tucker’s research lies at the nexus of analytical and environmental chemistry as he pursues PPCPs in their journey through the environment using field research and laboratory modeling. He is serving as this year’s Coordinator for the Battle of Burets.
“Computers and the physics of complex biological systems”
