RSB President Professor Dame Melanie Welham and winner of the Photographer of the Year competition Hannah Campaigne, holding certificate in front of RSB banner

From classrooms to gardens: highlights from Biology Week 2026

Date: 26 Oct 2026

The Royal Society of Biology celebrated its 15th Biology Week this year which saw over 70 events take place across the UK and online. Read on for highlights and to catch up on anything you missed.

Biology Week 2026 Highlights

Awards Ceremony

Our annual RSB Biology Week Awards Ceremony was hosted at the House of Commons, London to celebrate creativity, excellence in teaching, and the role of apprenticeships in the biosciences. Over 70 guests joined to receive their awards and celebrate the achievements of the RSB community.

Plant Health visit to Oxford Botanic Garden

An in-person visit to Oxford Botanic Garden and Magdalen College gave over 60 attendees the opportunity to hear talks and explore the gardens while networking with other members of the plant health community. Thanks to speakers Dr Chris Thorogood, Deputy Director and Head of Science at Oxford Botanic Garden, and Sam Prior, Arboricultural Manager at University Parks Oxford for delivering such engaging talks.

Group of people walking in single file through Oxford Botanic Gardens under blue sky with white clouds

Plant Health visit to Oxford Botanic Garden.

Spelling Bee competition

This year's nationwide Spelling Bee saw 260 schools and an incredible 62,000 students compete to spell as many biology-related words as possible in two minutes. Many thanks to Jon Hale, Head of Biology at Bromsgrove School, for organising the competition.

The Biology Week 2026 National Spelling Bee winners were:

  • Year 7: Jaycey of Bradford Grammar School with a score of 31
  • Year 8: Omar of Loughborough Grammar School with a score of 38
  • Year 9: Farzeen of Kendrick School with a score of 39
  • Year 10: Lucy of Ifield Community College with a score of 35
  • Year 11: Tahreem of Ifield Community College with a score of 35, winning on a tiebreak from Sethuni of Moseley Park Academy
  • Year 12: Hasini of Kendrick School with a score of 42
  • Year 13: Isis of Wixams Academy with a score of 42

The winners will receive a book and a certificate.

Nature webcams

There were over 150 RSB resources available during Biology Week, as well over 100 external resources.

For the first time this year, we launched nature showcase webcams as a new resource, which featured 22 webcams from across many different habitats around the world, from Alaska to Botswana.

Catch up now: online events

STEM club talk: from nature to neuroscience

This year's STEM talk was for anyone aged 11-19 to learn more about careers in the biosciences. With thanks to speakers Eric Swithinbank from Avon Wildlife and Professor Andrew Hsu FRSB, Neuroscientist and Founder of BrainCare360 Technology for sharing their experiences, and to Professor Diane Purchase CBiol FRSB for chairing the event.

Exploring Antarctic science online talk

The 'Polar Perspectives – Exploring Antarctic Science' online talk featured a marine biologist based in, and speaking from, Rothera Research Station, the British Antarctic Survey base in Antarctica.

RSB member-exclusive events

Several online events gave members the opportunity to connect with the RSB community.

  • RSB Fellow Professor Anne Goodenough talked about her fascinating work using AI and citizen science to answer ecological questions to over 110 attendees.
  • A discussion for MO science policy representatives focused on tackling disinformation and championing responsible science.
  • The Biology Week Fellows' Forum was an opportunity for Fellows to join RSB Chief Executive, Doug Brown, to discuss how the RSB can better support the biosciences.

Introduction to Journal Club

An introduction to Journal Clubs was hosted for students aged 14-19 (KS4, KS5, and all equivalents) to help empower young biologists to read and discuss some accessible, topical, interesting issues and findings from the science community. Led by Dr Sarah Pannell, Head of Biology and Assistant Head of Sixth Form, Crompton House School, the webinar can be watched on our YouTube channel and resources on how to run a journal club can be found on our website.

Podcasts

  • The RSB's Head of Science Policy, Dr Laura Marshall MRSB, and RSB ESP committee member Dr Sana Zakaria MRSB, were featured on The Foundation for Science and Technology's podcast discussing the issues that are at the forefront of policy discussion in biology.
  • An episode on AI in conservation, featuring Professor Anne Goodenough FRSB and hosted by former RSB staff member organiser of the first ever Biology Week, Becky Nesbit, was featured the Cat Among the Penguins podcast.

How to still get involved

The BioCraft competition – a biology arts and crafts competition – is now open to entries until 4 November 2026.

Travel grants are available for AMRSB and MRSB members worldwide. These grants give the opportunity for UK or overseas travel in connection with biological study, teaching, or research to those who would otherwise be unlikely to have it. Applications close on 22 January 2027.

STEM for BRITAIN, a poster competition for early career researchers, supported by the RSB, is currently accepting applications for finalists to present their work in Parliament until 27 November 2026.

Save the date

Next year's Biology Week will be hosted from 7-17 October 2027. Save the date and find out how you can get involved!

Winner of the School Biology Teacher of the Year with the two finalists with the London Eye in the background

L-R: Winner of School Biology Teacher of the Year 2026, Robert Loveridge, finalists Kimberley Williams and Michael Noone.