The Indian team made a significant mark at the 35th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2024 held in Astana, Kazakhstan. With one student winning a GOLD medal and three securing SILVER medals, India’s performance was remarkable. This year’s IBO, which took place from July 7 to July 13, saw the participation of 305 students from 80 countries.
The Indian team was led by Prof. Sasikumar Menon from TDM Lab, Mumbai, and Dr. Mayuri Rege from Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), TIFR. They were supported by Scientific Observers Dr. Rajesh Patkar from IIT Bombay, and Dr. Devesh Suthar from M. S. University, Baroda. The competition involved four experimental examinations and two theory examinations, covering topics such as Animal Anatomy, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics.
The experimental tests included dissections, plasmid purification, protein quantitation, and pH titration, utilizing advanced methods like PCA and sequence analysis. The theory tests featured questions based on cutting-edge research in plant biology, cell biology, ethology, and biosystematics. The success of the Indian team is attributed to the dedicated training by teachers and mentors during orientation and pre-departure camps at HBCSE.
The medal winners from the Indian team were Vedant Sakre from Mumbai, Maharashtra, who won the GOLD medal, and Ishan Pednekar from Ratnagiri, Maharashtra; Shrijith Sivakumar from Chennai, Tamil Nadu; and Yashashwi Kumar from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, who all secured SILVER medals.
The HBCSE is the nodal center for India’s Olympiad programme, promoting excellence in science and mathematics among pre-university students. The National Steering Committee, teacher organizations, and government funding agencies have played a crucial role in supporting this initiative. The Olympiad program in India covers Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Junior Science, and Physics through a five-stage process.
Source: Adda 247