4 Indian students make it to Biology Olympiad 

Four Indian students have been selected for the International Biology Olympiad beginning in Canada this week. Out of the total 15,000 contestants across the country, four were selected by the Indian National Biology Olympiad (INBO), National coordinator Vijay Singh said in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The Olympiad is an unique event designed to discover, encourage and challenge exceptionally gifted young students from all over the world. The event represents a "celebration" of the best in higher secondary school biology and over 65 countries are expected to participate this year.

IBO was initiated in 1990 and India started participating in it since 2000.

The Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) here has been a nodal centre for training and selecting students for the Biology Olympiad since 2000, Singh said.

Singh said the selection procedure of the Indian team began in November 2006. About 15,000 students from across the nation registered for the first level examination, of which 314 students were selected for the IInd level examination namely, the INBO examination.

The INBO examination was conducted in 15 centres across the country and 41 students were selected to participate in an intensive training camp, the orientation cum selection camp for International Biology Olympiad at HBCSE from June 4 to 11, 2007.

The four student team will be accompanied by two leaders, Prof Anindya Sinha, IISc, Bangalore and Dr Rekha Varta, HBCSE, Mumbai and two scientific observers Prof Arvind Kumar, Centre Director, HBCSE, Mumbai and Anupama Ronad, HBCSE, Mumbai.

The HBCSE collaborates with the Indian Association of Teachers for Biological Sciences (IATBS) and the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) for implementing the programme.

The Science Olympiad Programmes are funded by the Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of Human Resource Development. — PTI