On July 18, the 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) for secondary school students concluded in Lithuania. This year's competition saw 302 students from 78 countries and regions participate. All 4 members of the Chinese national team won gold medals, with our school's student Shi Jiayu winning a gold medal with a ranking of 2nd in the world.
Shi Jiayu (second from left) receiving her award at the closing ceremony.
This competition included both theoretical and practical examinations, covering multiple specialized fields of biology, and placed high demands on competitors' foundational knowledge, laboratory skills, data analysis, logical reasoning, and comprehensive application abilities.
Shi Jiayu began showing a strong interest in biology in 9th grade. At the time, Teacher Wang Xiaoyue noticed that she demonstrated exceptionally strong modeling thinking and enthusiasm for inquiry when dealing with complex problems such as genetic laws, and promptly guided her to recognize her own potential in the field of biology.
Her competition coach in 10th grade, Teacher Wang Yiwei, upheld the philosophy of "respecting students' wishes, focusing on improving subject competencies rather than fixating on grades," discovering and unlocking students' potential. He systematically built the knowledge framework for biology competitions, carefully cultivated her biological literacy, and led her in practicing both macro and microscopic experiments from scratch.
After entering 11th grade, competition coach Teacher Yang Debao specifically strengthened her biological abilities in a targeted manner, not only developing a dedicated cultivation plan for her, but also training her expression and critical thinking skills through opportunities such as classroom presentations and public explanations. When she suffered a setback, Teacher Yang encouraged her, saying: "Almost everyone gets nervous when facing an important exam. A moderate amount of nervousness is helpful for maintaining your exam mindset. You don't need to worry too much — just do your very best." This helped her thinking become increasingly sharp; she became better at communication and grew able to calmly revise her own views.
In August 2025, Shi Jiayu won a gold medal at the National High School Biology Competition, entered the national training team, and received a guaranteed admission offer to Tsinghua University. After that, she continued to maintain a humble and studious attitude, diligently pursuing her studies. Through sustained effort, she was selected for the Chinese national team in January 2026, and ultimately traveled to Lithuania in July of this year to compete in the 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO), where she won a gold medal.
Group photo of Shi Jiayu with RDFZ teachers and students.
This award is the result of the development of our school's academic competition cultivation system and the joint efforts of teachers and students. Our school will continue to uphold the educational philosophy of "respect individuality, unlock potential," striving to provide tailored developmental support for every student and helping students achieve well-rounded growth with individual strengths.
