Olympiad Diaries
Day 8
Day 8
The Open International Biology Olympiad (OIBO) concluded with outstanding achievements, bringing together 70 schoolchildren from 14 countries. Gold medals were awarded to Ersultan Kairken and Batyr Erzhanuly from Kazakhstan, Dmitry Ruban from Kyrgyzstan, and Russians Ivan Polyakov, Daria Garshina, Zakhar Degterenko, Alikhan Zhangaziev, and Vera Krasnoperova. The absolute winner of the Olympiad was Makar Roshchin from Russia. Additionally, 21 participants received silver medals, and 25 were awarded bronze medals. Team awards were also presented based on the results of the project round.
Makar Roshchin, the Olympiad’s absolute winner from Novosibirsk, has an impressive track record in academic competitions. In 2025, he won the All-Russian Biology Olympiad for schoolchildren, following another international victory the previous year.
"When I compete in Olympiads, I always aim to surpass my previous results. For me, the most important thing is learning, growing, and moving closer to my goals. This Olympiad was particularly special — it was my first time working in a team, and I really enjoyed collaborating with my talented teammates. We coordinated well and delivered a strong project. I believe these successes will guide me toward my future path. My dream is to study molecular biology," said Makar Roshchin.
During the team project round, participants tackled research tasks designed by Sirius' partners. The team from Djibouti emerged as the winners with their project for the Caucasus Biosphere Reserve.
“Our biology curriculum differs, so the Olympiad presented some challenges. The practical round was tougher for me than the theoretical one, which might explain why I didn't win a prize in the individual competition. However, we excelled in the team round. Our project explored plant species in the Caucasus Reserve and the factors threatening their survival — a fascinating topic, given how different the flora is from what we have in Africa. The most unforgettable moment was hearing our team announced as the winner — I even cried,” shared Hassan Mohammed Seid, a member of the Djibouti team.
For Hte U Iwin from Myanmar, the Olympiad reinforced his ambition to study medicine in Russia.
"This is my first time in Russia, and I’m still in awe. The Olympiad gave me unforgettable experiences and deepened my knowledge of biology. I dream of studying medicine here and contributing to healthcare and science in my home country. Beyond academics, OIBO was a chance to connect with brilliant minds from around the world — networking and forming friendships made this journey truly special," said Hte U Iwin.
