NZ team brings home gold from International Biology Olympiad

18 July 2011

New Zealand team brings home gold from International Biology Olympiad!

The New Zealand secondary school team of Benjamin Bai, Richard Chou, Vicky Tai and Jack Zhou are returning home from Taiwan, bringing with them a hat-trick of medals won at the prestigious 22nd International Biology Olympiad. The students all attend schools in Auckland.

This competition pits the top four young biologists from 59 countries against each other, in an intense round of practical assessments and theory examinations.

Jack Zhou won a Gold medal and is now ranked 21st in the world, New Zealand’s highest ever world ranking at the Biology Olympiad and our first Gold.

A Bronze medal was won by Richard Chou and a Silver medal by Benjamin Bai.

It is an outstanding achievement for these young biologists. It is a fitting reward for their diligence, dedication and sheer hard work over the last year. Team leader, Dr Angela Sharples said, "We should all be proud of the achievement of this New Zealand team. They have proved themselves to be amongst the world's best."

The students were supported to attend the Biology Olympiad by the Talented Student Travel Award which is funded by the Ministry of Science & Innovation and administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand.

They will arrive back in New Zealand on Saturday.

The students attend the following schools:
Vicky Tai – St Cuthberts College, Epsom, Auckland
Richard Chou – Macleans College, Bucklands Beach Auckland
Benjamin Bai – Macleans College, Bucklands Beach Auckland
Jack Zhou – Auckland International College.

The Royal Society of New Zealand promotes science, technology and the humanities in schools, in industry and in society. We administer funds for science and technology, publish science journals, offer advice to Government, and foster international scientific contact and co-operation. www.royalsociety.org.nz

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