The 27th International Biology Olympiad (IBO 2016) kicked off yesterday at the Hanoi National University of Education in the presence of IBO President Dr. Poonpipope Kasemsap. — Photo dantri.com.vn

HÀ NỘI – The 27th International Biology Olympiad (IBO 2016) kicked off yesterday at the Hanoi National University of Education in the presence of IBO President Dr. Poonpipope Kasemsap.

This is the first time the country has hosted such a biology competition. The IBO 2016 draws the participation of 264 students and 238 teachers from 71 countries and territories, which is reportedly the highest number of participants in the Olympiad so far, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Addressing the event, the Minister of Education and Training Phùng Xuân Nhạ said Việt Nam hosting the IBO 2016 was vivid evidence demonstrating the recognition of and trust in Việt Nam’s education development by the international community.

According to the minister, the country had successfully hosted and organised numerous international Olympiads including the International Chemistry Olympiad (2014), International Physics Olympiad (2008), the International Mathematical Olympiad (2007) and the Asian Physics Olympiad (2004).

“IBO 2016 is a chance for improved co-operation and sharing of experiences; promoting study spirit, especially the study of biology; and expanded relationships and enhanced scientific capacity of biologists world-wide,” minister Nhạ said.

IBO president Dr. Poonpipope Kasemsap said participants would sit for both theoretical and practical tests compiled by Việt Nam.

The tests are extraordinary, and are related to the host country’s biodiversity, Vietnam News Agency quoted Kasemsap as saying.

Head of the IBO 2016 organising committee and rector of the Hanoi National University of Education, Nguyễn Văn Minh, said the annual IBO - a science Olympiad for high school students under the age of 20 – aims to seek out young talents in the field of biology, and more importantly to inspire them to take their first steps into biological research.

The first IBO was held in Olomouc City, Czechoslovakia (which now belongs to the Czech Republic) in 1990 with six participating countries, namely: Belgium, Bulgaria, the German Democratic Republic, Poland and the Soviet Union. Việt Nam partook for the first time in 1996.

This year, the Vietnamese team has four contestants: Vũ Thị Chinh from the Hanoi National University’s High School for the Gifted in Natural Science, Nguyễn Ngọc Minh Hải from Quảng Ninh Province’s Hạ Long High School for the Gifted, Nguyễn Đắc Hiếu from Thanh Hóa Province’s Lam Sơn High School for the Gifted, and Lê Thị Hồng Hoa from Hà Nội – Amsterdam High School.

The IBO 2016 runs until Saturday, during which participating students and teachers will also have opportunities to learn about Việt Nam’s culture and beauty spots. VNS