British Biology Olympiad

See the 2008 IBO Results!

Background

The British Biology Olympiad (BBO) is an annual competition for post-16 students. It is part of the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) and for the past twelve years it has been associated with the Institute of Biology which provides administrative support for the BBO Committee

Since the establishment of the BBO in 1995 the numbers of participating students have steadily increased and it regularly attracts about 1500 entrants from all types of school from across the UK. The BBO is run by a volunteer committee of experienced teachers and lecturers who set and mark the questions as well as undertaking innumerable other tasks. Medals are presented to the winners by the BBO President at an annual awards ceremony in London. The current President is Professor Colin Blakemore. Past Presidents have included Lord Robert Winston and Baroness Susan Greenfield.

Aims

The BBO tries to challenge and stimulate gifted students with an interest in Biology to expand and extend their talents.  In offering a wider syllabus than A-level, it allows gifted students to demonstrate their knowledge and to be suitably rewarded and publicly recognised by the award of medals, certificates and other prizes.  It is hoped that competing in the Olympiad will encourage students already interested in this valuable, wide-ranging and rewarding subject to continue their study beyond A-level.

In addition to encouraging and rewarding pupils in their studies the BBO provides a means of selecting a team to represent UK at the IBO. The IBO, underwritten by UNESCO, seeks to challenge by both theory and practical tests some of the top pre-university biology students in the world, with over 50 countries taking part. The UK teams have had considerable success at IBO.

“I believe that the Olympiads [British and International Biology Olympiads] have the potential to increase take-up of this important science subject.”

Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Education and Skills (May 2006)