International Biology Olympiad comes to campus

27 April 2023

Faculty of Science, Science and technology

Some of the nation's brightest high school students were on campus for a prestigious biology competition.

From left: Racheal Rajkumar (Epsom Girls' Grammar School), Anthony Onrust (Westlake Boys' High School), Allan Han (Macleans College) and Ashleigh Bernacchi (Pinehurst School)

High school students competing in the New Zealand International Biology Olympiad were hosted by the University of Auckland in April.

Twenty-two of the nation’s brightest biology students were on educational “camp,” working in labs, learning from lecturers, venturing as far afield as the Leigh marine laboratory, and sitting an exam.

Allan Han (Macleans College), Ashleigh Bernacchi (Pinehurst School), Jifei Shao (St Cuthbert's College) and Jacob Miller (Mount Albert Grammar School) were selected to represent New Zealand at the 34th International Biology Olympiad in the United Arab Emirates in July.

From left: Jifei Shao (St Cuthbert's College), Farah Aladem (Lincoln High School) and Jenn Jury, a lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences
From left: Jacob Miller (Mount Albert Grammar School), Raphael Wang (John Paul College, Rotorua) and Allan Han (Macleans College) at the Leigh campus. The hoses are distributing seawater for University of Auckland masters student Josie Mason's experiment in kelp nutrient uptake.
From left: Racheal Rajkumar (Epsom Girls' Grammar School), senior lecturer in marine science Dr Richard Taylor and Declan Crombie (James Hargest College)

Media contact

Paul Panckhurst | media adviser
M: 022 032 8475
E: paul.panckhurst@auckland.ac.nz