The International Biology Olympiad (IBO), the world’s premier high school biology competition, was held this year in Vilnius, Lithuania. A lush landscape of forests, crop fields, and rich history, it is almost as far away as you can get from New Zealand.
Aotearoa New Zealand was privileged to send our team comprised of students from across the motu; Alex from Winton, Luan from Dunedin, Ericsson from Christchurch, and Nichole from Auckland made up the team. As one of the most geographically diverse teams in recent years, it shows that biology students are thriving across all our regions!
After an arduous 30+ hours of travel, Team NZ arrived a few days prior to the IBO and settled in to explore the nature and culture of Lithuania. Team leaders Aaron and Michelle organised a tour to the Hill of Crosses, a kayaking trip down the Neris River, and trips around the city of Vilnius with our IBO friends from Australia and Iceland. It’s fair to say that all came back with a new appreciation for the beauty and diversity of Lithuania, a place combining innovation with tradition.
The IBO competition itself was incredibly well-organized by the local hosts, comprising a range of rigorous exams across fascinating topics. On the theory side, the IBO covered university-level topics from all fields of biology. Then, across molecular biology to animal physiology, systematics, and plant computational biology, our team were put through their paces in challenging practical topics. Thanks to their hard work in preparation and the teaching from the NZIBO Tutors, all of our students achieved medals in recognition of their excellent results. Nichole and Ericsson received silver medals, and Alex and Luan achieved bronze medals, with all of our students placing in the top 40% of competitors!
More importantly, our team walk away from the IBO with new friendships and new aspirations of where biology can take them. The IBO is a forum for brilliant young biologists to form a network of collaboration, connection, and understanding. Across barriers of geography and language, we are all united by a love of biology and our desire for a better world.
Ačiū labia Lithuania, for such a great IBO experience!
