The young woman from Zaragoza was part of the Spanish delegation that finished the competition with a full set of medals: one gold, one silver and two bronzes. Alongside Patricia Pueyo, the other medalists were Ángel Alemany Rojas, from Alicante, who won gold; Pau Alfaro González, from Lleida, who won silver; and Miguel Masa Fernández, from Griñón, Madrid, who took the other bronze.
FROM IES GOYA IN ZARAGOZA TO COMPETING IN BRAZIL
Patricia Pueyo completed upper-secondary school at IES Goya in Zaragoza, where her Biology teacher, Fernando de la Figuera, encouraged her to take part in the Olympiad and supported her during her preparation. She previously attended Colegio Sagrado Corazón Corazonistas La Mina in Zaragoza for primary education.
After this stage, the student will also remain connected to science in Aragón, as she is beginning a degree in Biotechnology at the University of Zaragoza. To reach the international competition, she first had to pass the regional rounds and win a medal at the Spanish Biology Olympiad, held last March at the University of Cantabria.
Only four Spanish students ultimately secured a place in Brazil after a process that began with more than 5,000 participants. Before the trip, the national representatives also completed a week of training at the University of Málaga in July.
150 QUESTIONS AND PRACTICAL BIOLOGY TESTS
The 19th Ibero-American Biology Olympiad was held from August 31 to September 4 at the Butantan Institute in São Paulo, one of Latin America’s leading centers for biomedical research and the production of vaccines and sera. A total of 56 students from 16 countries took part.
The competition included a practical test featuring experimental and hands-on exercises in Zoology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, as well as two theoretical tests in which participants had to answer 150 questions covering different areas of Biology.
The event aims to foster young people’s interest in Biology and scientific research, while also strengthening educational ties among Ibero-American countries. Following the edition held in Brazil, Guatemala will host the event in 2027, when the 20th Ibero-American Biology Olympiad will take place in the city of Antigua.
