Secondary school students from all over the country compete in the National Final of the Biotechnology Olympics

With the main aim of promoting scientific and technological culture, as well as stimulating interest in biotechnology, the Faculty of Biotechnology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (ESB) organised the national final of the XVIII Biotechnology Olympics in partnership with the Portuguese Biotechnology Society. In the main category, the three winning students came from Escola Secundária de Cacilhas-Tejo (Almada), Escola Secundária Afonso Lopes Vieira (Leiria) and Colégio de Gaia. In the best composition category, a student from Escola Secundária de Cacilhas-Tejo won, with honourable mentions going to Escola Secundária de Valongo and Colégio Santo António International School (Estoril).

During the day the participants had the chance to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in biotechnology in a challenging environment interspersed with opportunities for conversation. This national final represented the culmination of a competition that included two local qualifiers and left a few hundred participants in its wake.

For Egídia Azevedo, a biology teacher at Escola Secundária de Cacilhas-Tejo, this event was a unique opportunity for the students to show their potential. "Taking part in this type of activity stimulates the development of students’ multiple skills and opens up a huge range of new horizons for the future, as it allows them to visit laboratory spaces and experience a professional environment", she said.

The students also shared their experience and satisfaction of taking part in the Biotechnology Olympics. Joana Mendes Coelho, a 12th grader at Escola Secundária de Cacilhas-Tejo and one of the winners, emphasised the importance of events like this for her academic and personal development. "I was encouraged by a teacher and, as I'm also interested in biomedical and biotechnological research, this event was even more interesting", she said.

Camila Santos Pereira, a 12th grader at the Afonso Lopes Vieira Secondary School and also a winner, said: "One of my options for higher education is Biotechnology and this type of event helps us get to know this area better. Because of the written test and the laboratory activities, we were able to get to know the course better". Afonso Esteira, a 12th grader at Colégio de Gaia, added: "I think biotechnology is an interesting area and that's why I signed up. In the future I'd like to pursue something related to this field".

This national final, which took place on 17 May 2024, was not just an intellectual competition: it also became a celebration of the talent and dedication of young secondary school students interested in science and technology. The Faculty of Biotechnology played a key role in hosting and organising this event, demonstrating its commitment to promoting scientific literacy.