The 30th International Biology Olympiad was held in Szeged, Hungary from the 14th to the 21st of July.
The NZ team of Anneke Cummack (Diocescan School for Girls), Sophie Bebelman (Sancta Maria College, Auckland), Carlos Mendonca (Onslow College, Wellington) and Zi Lin Wang (Macleans College, Auckland) have been competing with students from 72 different countries.
The New Zealand team completed a range of practical tasks from dissecting chicken wings, to keying out native Hungarian grasses to using molecular biology to run gels using electrophoresis. All of the assessments allowed students to learn while challenging their ability to interpret current worldwide biological research. Anneke Cummack, and Zi Lin Wang gained Silver medals, Sophia Bebelman was awarded a Bronze medal and Carlos Mendonca, a Highly Commended. This is a huge achievement for the New Zealand team and a tribute to their dedicated study over 18 months.
In addition, the team got to explore Budapest and Szeged, they have seen storks and their nests, climbed to the top of a cathedral, boated on the Danube and had a go at Hungarian dancing. The chance to meet students from around the globe, share their enthusiasm for Biology and laugh across language boundaries has been immense.
More information about the 30th IBO and NZIBO can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/NZBio…
