On July 27, the 36th International Biology Olympiad (IBO 2025) ended. It was held at the Ateneo de Manilan University in the Philippines. The Belarusian team once again showed their high level of education, winning three bronze medals and an honorable mention.

This year, the prestigious competition brought together more than 300 talented schoolchildren from 78 countries with 4 more countries participating as observers. Participants had to go through two stages: theory and practice. These two stages tested not only knowledge, but also the ability to apply it in real scientific environment.

The theory covered key areas of modern biology: cell biology, anatomy and physiology of plants and animals, genetics and evolution, ecology, ethology, and biosystematics. In practice round, which lasted 1.5 hours in each of the four laboratory blocks, students solved problems in the field of biomedical sciences, cell and molecular biology, ecology and taxonomy, as well as microbiology, demonstrating a high level of experimental skills and scientific thinking.

Belarusian team was formed from the winners of the final round of the National Biology Olympiad 2025. Leading specialists of the Biology Faculty of BSU and BSMU were engaged in the training of young biologists. The team was led by Associate Professor of the Department of Cell Biology and Plant Bioengineering of BSU Svetlana Filippova and Associate Professor of the Department of Zoology of BSU Fyodor Sautkin.

Congratulations to the winners:

*Ksenia Borisenok, graduate of Ushachi Secondary School, Vitebsk Oblast. She won bronze medal;

*Alexander Drozd, graduate of the Vitebsk Cadet School. (bronze medal);

*Anastasia Tenyugo, graduate of Dolzhanskaya Secondary School, Vitebsk Oblast and bronze medal as well;

*Vyacheslav Pirogov, graduate of F.E. Dzerzhinsky Lyceum of Belarusian State University. He won an honorable mention.

This outstanding achievement is the result of hard work, mentoring and systematic work to identify and support gifted students in Belarus. The successes of our students at the international arena inspire new participants, raise the prestige of natural science education and emphasize the high level of training in educational institutions of Belarus.

Congratulations to the young biologists, their mentors, parents and educational institutions on their successful performance at IBO 2025!

We wish you further scientific discoveries, victories and inspiration on the way to new heights!