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Organization of Japan Biology Olympiad Committee (JBO)
Established in 2005.
JBO is basically composed of two committees related to each other; one is Organizing Committee based on academic societies of biology in Japan and the other is Steering Committee. Steering Committee has five functional divisions; 1) international affairs, 2) designing theoretical questions for examinations, 3) conducting primary and tertiary selections, 4) designing practical questions and performing secondary selection, and 5) general affairs/public relations. Members of Steering Committee are mainly university faculty members and high school teachers related to biology. Secretarial office resides in Japan Science Foundation (JSF).
Address of JSF; 2-1, Kitanomaru-Koen, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 102-0091 Japan.Selection of the IBO Delegate: Primary selection, composed of 50 theoretical questions with alternative choices, covering the standard curriculum of Japanese high schools and considering advanced IBO problems, is performed to grades 9-12 of high school students.
In 2005, 443 students participated in the primary selection in 19 locations all over Japan. At the primary selection, the top 10 students were selected and the secondary selection (practical questions, three-day-long) was performed for them, and finally, the top four students were selected as the delegates for IBO 2006.
In 2006, 851 students participated in the primary selection in 30 locations all over Japan. At the primary selection, the top 20 students were selected and the secondary selection (practical questions, three-day long) was performed for them, and finally, the top four students were selected as the delegates for IBO 2006.
In 2007, 1322 students participated in the primary selection in 57 locations and the 25 students were selected for the secondary selection.Study Aids for Selected Students: The delegate students were supported by faculties at nearby universities through e-mail or by visiting their laboratories. Special training for them was carried out for six days with hands on practice and lectures by a project team of JBO.
Study materials: A project team of JBO prepares the special textbooks for the secondary selection and the special training. JBO also recommends Japanese edition of “Campbell’s Biology” as a reference.
Awardingof students, prizes: After primary selection, top 5% students are awarded a certificate from JBO. Admission offices of several Japanese universities treat this certificate as a preferential criterion.
Financial support/resources: Grants from Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) support JBO activities including primary, secondary and tertiary selections, students training, travel of a delegation team to the site of IBO, etc. MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Technology of Japan) is the main funding body of JST.
National competition: Students of grades 9 to 12 are eligible to participate in primary selection of JBO.
Selection procedure for the IBO competition: Students are able to enter primary selection (theoretical question) by e-mail, facsimile or from the web site, and they can choose one of nearby locations in Japan. At the primary selection (theoretical questions), top 25 students are selected. Secondary selection (practical questions) is performed for the students. At the secondary selection, top 10 students are selected. Tertiary selection (theoretical questions) is performed for the students. Finally, top 4 students are chosen as the delegates for IBO based on their scores.
National committee : The president of JBO is Dr. Hideo Mohri, a professor emeritus of the University of Tokyo.
Terms of membership of the steering committee and the organizing committee are not specified in this charter.IBO coordinator: Dr. Ryoichi Matsuda
Associate Professor, Department of Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan. Phone# +81-3-5454-6637, Fax# +81-3-5454-4306, e-mail; cmatsuda@mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Secretary; Mr. Hiroshige Kimura
Science, Technology and Education Department, The Japan Science Foundation, 2-1, Kitanomaru-Koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0091Japan. Phone# +81-3-3212-8477, Fax# +81-3-3212-7790, Email; hiro-kimura@jsf.or.jp
The 20th International Biology Olympiad 2009 will be held in Tsukuba, Japan
Copyright (C) Japan Biology Olympiad Committee (JBO) 2008
