St Swithun’s student awarded prize at national biology awards ceremony
An awards ceremony was held in London to celebrate the achievements of students for their impressive results in the 2014 Biology Challenge. The competition, run by the Society of Biology, consists of online multiple choice questions which test pupils’ knowledge of biology and stimulate their enthusiasm for the natural world.
One of the Top 40 Biology Challenge winners was Christine Chan, Year 10, from St Swithun’s School, Winchester. In total, 32,500 students from across the UK competed and over 9,500 certificates were awarded to students.
The ceremony’s guest speaker was Professor Alice Roberts who gave a fascinating lecture on how our development as an embryo echoes earlier stages of evolution, harking back to very ancient ancestors.
Dr Hilary Otter, head of biology at St Swithun’s said ‘Professor Roberts always speaks with great clarity, using simple language to explain complex phenomena so that they can be easily understood. The warmth and enthusiasm with which she speaks is infectious and was undoubtedly a source of inspiration for all the student biologists present’.
The ceremony showcased some of the best young biologists in the UK. Dr Mark Downs FSB, chief executive of the Society of Biology, commented: “I was delighted to see such high standards and enthusiasm for biology at this year’s Biology Challenge.
“Biology tackles some of the 21st Century’s greatest challenges – everything from conservation to research into diseases such as cancer. It is therefore essential that we inspire today’s students to become tomorrow’s biologists.”
The Biology Challenge is a junior version of the British Biology Olympiad and is organised by the Society of Biology’s UK Biology Competitions Special Interest Group. Both competitions are made possible through the dedication of volunteers and are supported by funding from the Biotechnology and Biological and Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
About the British Biology Olympiad (BBO)
The British Biology Olympiad (BBO) is an annual competition for post-16 students. It is part of the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). In addition to encouraging and rewarding pupils in their study of biology, the BBO provides a means of selecting a team to represent UK at the IBO. http://www.ukbiologycompetitions.org/