Marlow was selected as one of 25 students from across the country to take part in the prestigious programme at Otago University

During the term one break, Marlow Winder (Y13) was lucky enough to attend the New Zealand Biology Olympiad Camp, selected as one of 25 students from across the country to take part in the prestigious programme at Otago University in Dunedin.

The 10 busy days covered the full breadth of biology — Biochemistry, Botany, Ecology, Zoology, Marine Science, and Bioinformatics — along with three exams and plenty of other experiences. The intensive programme is designed as a crash course into the international circuit, with students working through two-year biology courses, conducting experiments, and rubbing shoulders with some of New Zealand's top professors and academics.

Selection for the camp came after five months of work, sitting an entrance exam in late 2025. Over the course of four months, Marlow attended NZIBO tutorial sessions and spent many hours working through assignments and tasks. Earlier this year, Marlow sat the final Camp Selection exam and was fortunate to be selected.

Marlow hopes to study Medicine after high school, and the camp was a wonderful opportunity to get a head start on some useful skills, as well as connect with like-minded students who share the same interests. 

Registrations for this year's programmes open later in the year — if you're scientifically minded, it's well worth giving it a go! Find out more here.