Lithuanian pupils win two silver and two bronze medals as Vilnius hosts the International Biology Olympiad for the first time
Lithuania’s team performed strongly at the 37th International Biology Olympiad, which brought together outstanding young biologists from around the world in Vilnius from 12 to 19 July. The four Lithuanian pupils won two silver and two bronze medals.
The 37th International Biology Olympiad, held in Vilnius, brought together 302 pupils from 78 countries. A total of 185 medals were awarded: 33 gold, 60 silver and 92 bronze medals, while a further 30 participants received certificates of merit.
All four pupils representing Lithuania won medals.
Silver medals went to Mykolas Sasnauskas, a Year 10 pupil at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Engineering Lyceum (teacher: Edita Daiva Jankauskienė), and Kotryna Mieldažytė, a Year 11 pupil at Vilnius Jesuit Gymnasium (teacher: Ala Vaicekauskienė).
Bronze medals went to Rugilė Burinskaitė, a Year 11 pupil at Kaunas Saulė Gymnasium (teacher: Asta Jaruševičienė), and Saulė Vaidelytė, a Year 12 pupil at Kaunas University of Technology Gymnasium (teacher: Mantas Palubinskas).
The Lithuanian team was led by Associate Professor Indrė Lapeikaitė, Dr Ina Gorban and Associate Professor Rasa Sabaliauskaitė of Vilnius University’s Life Sciences Centre.
Competitors completed both practical and theoretical tasks. The practical tasks involved extensive pipetting, electrophoresis, red blood cell counting, analysing models of kidney processes, identifying insect species, dissecting the mouthparts of an insect, analysing plant transcriptome data, macrophenotype analysis, and a range of other tasks.
Pupils also answered theoretical questions on cell biology; plant anatomy and physiology; animal anatomy and physiology; ethology; genetics and evolution; ecology; and biosystematics. The organisers prepared 100 theoretical questions, which pupils had six hours to answer.
A team of Vilnius University experts developed the tasks and ensured their scientific rigour. The Olympiad was organised by the Lithuanian Agency for Non-Formal Education (LINEŠA).
Next year’s International Biology Olympiad is due to be held in Poland.
Information and photos: LINEŠA