Estonian students received two bronze medals at the International Biology Olympiad

The 35th International Biology Olympiad took place in Astana, Kazakhstan July 7-13. Estonian students return with two bronze medals and two acknowledgements for good participation. 

Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country by it's territory in the world, Astana has been the capital since 1997. The organizer of the Olympiad was the Kazakhstan's Ministry of Education and the competition itself took place at Nazarbajev University in Astana. 

The Estonian team consisted of Mia Marleen Rahe (Tallinn Secondary School of Science), Violeta Jürgens (Tartu Hugo Treffner Gymnasium), Karl-Erik Volberg (Pärnu Sütevaka Humanitarian Gymnasium) and Simo Linno (Nõo Science Gymnasium). 

Among the members of the international jury who prepared the Olympiad tasks for the students were also Karl Jürgenstein, a doctoral student at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), University of Tartu, Mari Remm, a student at the Faculty of Medicine, Ando Vaan, a resident at the Faculty of Medicine and Sulev Kuuse, head of the vivarium at IMCB and Chairman of the Jury of the Estonian Biology Olympiad.

The practical works included exercises from biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, animal anatomy and physiology. In the latest, a real dissection of a specimen took place for the first time in several years, the structure of a sheep's eye was examined. The section of theory was divided into two parts, each consisted of 50 questions, to be answered within three and half hours per part (all together within seven hours). Both theory sections included seven topics: biosystematics, cell and molecular biology, ecology, ethology, genetics and evolution, plant anatomy and physiology and animal anatomy and physiology. 

Violeta Jürgens and Simo Linno received bronze medals, Mia Marleen Rahe and Karl-Erik Volberg were recognized for good participation. The number of participants was 286 representing 81 countries. 

The preparation and participation of Estonian students in international competitions is financed by the Ministry of Education and Science and organized by the University of Tartu Youth Academy. The Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology and the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu also supported the preparation works of the Olympiad. Young biologists were supported also by Estonian biotechnology companies Icosagen and Solis BioDyne.

Image

Estonian students after the competition (photo Sulev Kuuse)
From left: Karl-Erik Volberg, Violeta Jürgens, Simo Linno, Mia Marleen Rahe
 

(in Estonian, additional interview with the students who represented Estonia)

Loe delegatsiooni muljeid enne sõitu