Biology Olympiads
Singapore Junior Biology Olympiads
The Singapore Junior Biology Olympiad (SJBO) was started in 2016, as a complement to the SBO. SJBO involves an initial theory round, from which the highest ranking schools are selected to participate in a practical round. SJBO is targeted at upper secondary students. The aim of the SJBO is to foster critical thinking skills amongst the students as well as to offer an early taste of the SBO/IBO experience. SJBO is co-organized by SiBiol and the Singapore Science Centre, with support from the Ministry of Education.
Singapore Biology Olympiads
Calling Singapore’s top Biology students! The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) is an annual event where students from around the World compete in a grueling test of their skills in tackling biological problems and biological experiments. The Singapore Institute of Biology, with the support of the Ministry of Education, National University of Singapore and the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University selects and trains our best junior college students for this challenge.
The Singapore Biology Olympiad has been an annual event since 2000. Each year, several hundred of our top biology students from junior colleges take an initial theory test, from which perhaps several dozen students are shortlisted to take the practical test. Those emerging tops after these two rounds are awarded medals.
However, being a medalist at SBO is merely the first step in the selection towards representing Singapore at the IBO! Selected medalists are interviewed and a final shortlist undergo an intensive training programme by dedicated academics from NUS and NIE. Eventually, a “Final Four” and one reserve are chosen to form the Singapore Team. Then it’s off to the IBO!
The Singapore Biology Olympiad is open to both local and foreign students enrolled in Singapore schools. Students who wish to participate in the Olympiad would need to register through their schools upon invitation by MOE.
International Biology Olympiads
Introduction
In bringing together gifted students, the International Biology Olympiads (www.ibo-info.org) tries to challenge and stimulate these students to expand their talents and to promote their career as a scientist, so biology talents do not get lost. The Olympiad also is focussing on biology as a beautiful and valuable subject. Many biological topics like ethology and ecology stress the importance of biology for society, especially items such as nature preservation and/or environmental protection.
Since the first IBO in 1990 where just 6 founding countries from Eastern Europe participated, participation in the IBO has grown significantly to nearly 60 countries and looks set to continue growing. The aims of the IBO are to stimulate active interest in biological studies by the creative solution of biological problems, to promote exchange of ideas and materials about biology education, to promote regular international contacts and establish friendly relations among young people from different countries and thus to stimulate cooperation and understanding between nations.
IBO Results
Tabulated below are results for the Singapore team since we first began participating in the IBO in 2001. Singapore has consistently done well every year. Team Singapore topped the country rankings in 2012, and again in 2016!
Tabulated below are results for Team Singapore, since we first began participating in the IBO in 2001. Singapore has consistently done well every year.
Note: Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the 31st IBO2020 was cancelled and in its place, an unofficial online competition was held. Due to this arrangement, awards to participants were not ranked.
| IBO | Year | Host City | Team members (School) | Medals (Overall Rank) | Country ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12th | 2001 | Brussels, Belgium | Mr Wei Yifeng (ACJC) Mr Teo Shiyi (RJC) Ms Pricilla Ng (RJC) Ms Melissa Fullwood (RJC) | Gold (10) Gold (16) Silver (26) Silver (27) | 3rd of 38 |
| 13th | 2002 | Jurmala-Riga, Latvia | Mr Ng Shuh Chang (RJC) Ms Huang Mingyan (RJC) Mr Jonathan Chia Wei Zhong (RJC) Mr Chia Sheng Zhi (RJC) | Gold (12) Gold (13) Silver (31) Silver (34) | 4th of 40 |
| 14th | 2003 | Minsk, Belarus | Ms Shirleen Soh Ying Qi (VJC) Mr Hong Enping (RJC) Mr Ho Jiang Hai (HCJC) Mr Chew Guo-Liang (ACJC) | Gold (7) Silver (18) Silver (25) Silver (32) | 5th of 41 |
| 15th | 2004 | Brisbane, Australia | Mr Lim Tse Yang (RJC) Mr Brandon Seah Kwee Boon (ACJC) Mr Huang Weixin (HCJC) Ms Zhang Tianyi (RJC) | Gold (1) Gold (4) Silver (32) Silver (48) | 2nd of 40 |
| 16th | 2005 | Beijing, China | Mr Ng Sheng Rong (HCJC) Mr Chen Shiwei (HCJC) Mr Colin Teo Guoxuan (RJC) Ms Mabel Ang Yen Lin (RJC) | Gold (12) Silver (23) Silver (31) Silver (47) | 6th of 50 |
| 17th | 2006 | Rio Cuarto, Argentina | Mr Huang Kee Wui (ACJC) Mr Justin Wee Liang Yi (RJC) Mr Alfred Seng (HCI) Mr Tay Rong En (RJC) | Gold (12) Gold (17) Silver (36) Silver (48) | 5th of 49 |
| 18th | 2007 | Saskatoon, Canada | Mr Mayank Soni (RJC) Mr Gary Soh Hui Ming (ACJC) Mr Ian Wee Liang En (HCI) Mr Tan Yong Zi (HCI) | Silver (26) Silver (27) Silver (43) Silver (60) | 9th of 55 |
| 19th | 2008 | Mumbai, India | Mr Men Yifei (RJC) Mr Joshua Sng Weirong (HCI) Mr Timothy Lim Min De (ACS(I)) Mr Kevin Choy Chi Chuen (ACS(I)) | Gold (5) Gold (15) Silver (28) Silver (32) | 5th of 55 |
| 20th | 2009 | Tsukuba, Japan | Ms Dong Yangzi (HCI) Mr Tan Wei Han (HCI) Mr Yuan Chengxiang (RJC) Ms Ang Qi Yan (HCI) | Gold (1) Gold (3) Gold (14) Silver (44) | 3rd of 56 |
| 21st | 2010 | Changwon, Korea | Daniel Lim Yan Zheng (ACS(I)) Yong Xianbin (HCI) Zeng Tian Chen (RI(JC)) Kylie Goh Jin Ying (NUS High) | Gold (17) Silver (28) Silver (29) Silver (37) | 9th of 50 |
| 22nd | 2011 | Chinese Taipei | Jin Chentian (RI(JC)) Javan Lee Tze Han (HCI) Hong Xinyuan (NUS High) Sia Zhen Wei Michael (ACS(I)) | Gold (11) Gold (13) Gold (22) Silver (55) | 3rd of 58 |
| 23rd | 2012 | Singapore | Nol Swaddiwudhipong (RI(JC)) Mao Haitong (RI(JC)) Zhang Huiting (RI(JC)) Lim Yuan Wei (HCI) | Gold (1) Gold (6) Gold (11) Gold (23) | 1st of 59 |
| 24th | 2013 | Bern, Switzerland | Cheong Yi Loong Benny (HCI) Stanley Quek Tee Kai (NUS High) Yap Chun Hian John (HCI) Zhao Xing Liang (HCI) | Gold (4) Gold (5) Gold (10) Gold (22) | 2nd of 61 |
| 25th | 2014 | Bali, Indonesia | Qu Xinyi (NUS High) Cleon Kho (HCI) Raphael Soh (RI(JC)) Timothy Sim (ACS(I)) | Gold (2) Gold (11) Gold (22) Silver (46) | 2nd of 61 |
| 26th | 2015 | Aarhus, Denmark | Daniel Tan Chee Hian (HCI(JC)) Samuel Fong En Lei (RI(JC)) Chang Jia Geng (RI(JC)) Theophila Toh Ying Lin (NUS High) | Gold (4) Gold (12) Gold (17) Silver (42) | 3rd of 61 |
| 27th | 2016 | Hanoi, Vietnam | Lim Yi Shen Justin (RI(JC)) Tang Fengjie (RI(JC)) Mok Kai Lin Jacy (HCI(JC)) Li Jiaqi (RI(JC)) | Gold (1) Gold (3) Gold (12) Gold (21) | 1st of 65 |
| 28th | 2017 | Coventry, UK | Aditi Saayujya (NUS High) Lucas Yeo (Yang Yuxu) (RI(JC)) Muzammil Arif Din S/O Abdul Jabbar (RI(JC)) Lim Yan Ling (NUS High) | Gold (3) Gold (7) Gold (14) Silver (40) | 3rd of 63 |
| 29th | 2018 | Tehran, Iran | Lim Yun Wei Shermane (NUS High) Ng Wei Jun Justin (HCI) Chan Xu Rui Isaac (HCI) Ong Jia Xin (NUS High) | Gold (10) Gold (17) Gold (21) Silver (51) | 3rd of 68 |
| 30th | 2019 | Szegad, Hungary | Tan Zipei (HCI) Goh Jinghan, Cameron (RI(JC)) Gu Jiahao (RI(JC)) Amani Pek (NUSHS) | Gold (5) Gold (10) Gold (17) Silver (35) | 4th of 71 |
| 31st | 2020 | Online Competition (Cancelled event: Nagasaki, Japan) | Lin Ziwei Dewey (RI(JC)) Lu Kate (RI(JC)) Qiu Xinzhi (NUSH) Tan Cheng Yat (NUSH) | Gold Silver Silver Silver | NA |
| 32nd | 2021 | Online Challenge (Lisbon, Portugal) | Trivikram Mohan (NUSH) Ong Chong Yao (NUSH) Christopher Tay Hiang Juey (RI(JC)) Bryan Sim En Jie (RI(JC)) | Gold Silver Silver Silver | NA |
| 33rd | 2022 | Yerevan, Armenia | Owen Ong Jun Heng (RI(JC)) Koo Min Seo (NUSH) George Lee Zhi Xiang (NUSH) Kuppusamy Velmurugan Aravindh (NUSH) | Gold (15) Gold (26) Silver (39) Bronze (105) | 5th of 62 |
Upcoming IBOs
For more information: International Biology Olympiad (ibo-info.org)