From 12–19 July this year, Vilnius will host the 37th International Biology Olympiad, bringing together young biology enthusiasts from around the world. An event of this scale – expected to welcome up to 600 participants from 82 countries – is being organised in Lithuania for the first time in history.
“Hosting the International Biology Olympiad is a very important experience for Lithuania, demonstrating that our country is capable of organising top-level scientific events and being visible within the global scientific community,” says Valdas Jankauskas, Director of one of the event’s organisers, the Lithuanian Non-Formal Education Agency.
According to Gediminas Beresnevičius, Head of the Skills Development Division at LINEŠA, organising an international event of this scale is not only a matter of prestige for the country but also an opportunity for Lithuania’s scientific community to establish long-term connections with universities, researchers, and education leaders worldwide.
“Moreover, it is an investment in the future, as such exceptional events inspire young people to pursue science and demonstrate that Lithuania is an active part of the international scientific landscape,” he emphasises.
As noted by Dr Paulius Lukas Tamošiūnas, Head of the Methodological STEAM Education Centre at Vilnius University, each country participating in the Olympiad is expected to organise such events in turn, thereby proving to the international community that even small countries can contribute to important global initiatives and be active, heard partners.
“This is particularly relevant in today’s world, which faces challenges related to democracy and cooperation,” he adds.
150 volunteers to support participants
The organisers – the Lithuanian Non-Formal Education Agency, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of Lithuania, and Vilnius University – are currently engaged in intensive preparations for this exceptional event.
More than 150 volunteers will help deliver the full programme. “Although we have organised several international Olympiads in Lithuania before, this one surpasses all previous events in both size and scope. We therefore carry a great responsibility to present our country in the best possible light to international guests and provide them with unforgettable experiences,” says G. Beresnevičius.
According to P. L. Tamošiūnas, as with any large-scale event, the most complex aspects involve visas, accommodating the diverse needs of a large number of participants, and public procurement procedures.
G. Beresnevičius agrees that the main challenges of organising such an event for the first time are related to its scale and complexity. “First and foremost – logistics. We need to smoothly receive hundreds of participants from different countries and ensure accommodation, transport, catering, and the full programme,” he explains.
The Olympiad tasks are being developed and their scientific quality ensured by a strong team of experts from Vilnius University. In the process, members of the academic community also have the opportunity to consult international advisors with extensive experience in task development.
“The quality of the Olympiad organisation is ensured by very clear guidelines for organisers, continuous cooperation with the Olympiad’s Steering Committee, and three experienced international advisors,” says P. L. Tamošiūnas.
Preparations highly praised
On 7–11 April, representatives of the International Biology Olympiad Steering Committee and international advisors visited Vilnius.
During the visit, Lithuania’s readiness for the summer event was discussed with organisers, alongside various organisational issues. The guests also took an interest in the quality of the upcoming Olympiad tasks.
Following the visit, participants shared positive impressions of Lithuania’s preparations.
“I think the team is wonderful – they work very well together, and that is the most important thing today. What’s interesting is that everyone seems happy with what they are doing. There’s no sense of tension – people are enjoying the preparation, and I think that’s very important,” says international advisor Dr José António Matos.
Dr Takao Ishikawa, a member of the IBO Steering Committee, also noted that the entire process appears to be very well organised.
“I am convinced that if the preparation process is this smooth, the main event itself will also be of very high quality,” he says.
“We are pleased that our preparation has been recognised as truly professional. To ensure the Olympiad meets its standards, we work closely with the international biology Olympiad board and draw on both international and our own experience gained from observing previous Olympiads. We follow all official requirements set out in the Olympiad regulations – from task preparation to evaluation and overall organisation. All processes are reviewed by international observers and delegation leaders,” adds G. Beresnevičius.
Focus: nature – culture – community
The motto of the 37th International Biology Olympiad, to be held in Lithuania’s capital from 12–19 July, is “Nature – Culture – Community.”
The opening ceremony is planned at the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall, while the closing ceremony will take place at the Litexpo.
Participants will complete tasks in molecular biology and biochemistry, animal physiology, plant computational biology, and animal anatomy and systematics.
“We are planning a wide range of activities that we hope will leave a strong impression on participants and allow them to discover Lithuania. Significant attention is given not only to the academic programme but also to the social programme – we aim for participants to take away not only knowledge but also a meaningful experience,” says G. Beresnevičius.
Lithuania’s Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of Lithuania accepted the invitation to organise the 2026 International Biology Olympiad back in 2023. Lithuanian students have been participating in the Olympiad since 2006.
This will be the first time in history that an international Olympiad of this size is held in Lithuania.
Among similar-scale events, Lithuania also hosted the International Physics Olympiad 2021, though it took place remotely due to the pandemic.