Indian-origin Soorajnath Boominathan is part of a four-member team that represented the US in the annual 47th International Chemistry Olympiad held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from July 20 to 29. A resident of Oklahoma state, Boominathan has recently earned his graduation from Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics."I think representing my country is the most amazing part of this whole experience. It is hard to put into words what this means," the 16-year-old was quoted as saying in an India West report. Boominathan, who has lived in Oklahoma for the past 10 years, will be attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology this fall.

The chemistry competition consists of two exams that can last as long as five hours each and need to be attended on separate days. Subjects include organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry and biochemistry. Boominathan is studying as much as eight hours a day for the competition. According to his mentor Fazlur Rahman, chemistry professor at Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, Boominathan is one of the top chemistry students in the nation." Sooraj has much to celebrate. I think he has all the elements and ingredients to be a great scientist," Rahman was quoted as saying.