The Saudi Biology Team won four international awards at the 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO 2026), held in Vilnius, Lithuania, from July 12 to 19. The competition brought together 312 students representing 80 countries from around the world, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday. Taha Arshad Kadwai, from the General Administration of Education in Jeddah, won a silver medal. Hamza Mohammed Baissa, from the General Administration of Education in Riyadh, and Elyas Fawzi Asloub, from the General Administration of Education in Jeddah, each won a bronze medal, while Faisal Saad Al-Abdullatif, from the General Administration of Education in Riyadh, received a certificate of appreciation. Represented by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia participated in the competition for the fifth time. The latest achievement brings the Kingdom's total at the International Biology Olympiad to 19 awards, including five silver medals, nine bronze medals, and five certificates of appreciation. The result followed intensive preparation under the Mawhiba International Olympiads Program, which included training camps held inside and outside the Kingdom under the supervision of national and international experts. The International Biology Olympiad is the world's leading competition for secondary school students in the life sciences. Held annually since its launch in 1989, it brings together some of the world's most gifted students to compete in advanced examinations that assess scientific knowledge, biological problem-solving, and laboratory skills. Mawhiba is Saudi Arabia's leading national institution for identifying, nurturing, and empowering gifted students. It operates under a national strategy to develop talent in priority scientific fields.
