Biology Week Calendar

RSB events and resources

A to Z of the Biosciences: RSB’s ‘A to Z of the Biosciences’ short films, shining a spotlight on different bioscience careers, will be returning for another series launching weekly videos starting in Biology Week.

BioCraft Competition: Participants can create a biology-inspired art sculpture from recycled, or other, materials to enter into the RSB BioCraft competition. 

#IAmABiologist — Each year for Biology Week, we aim to inspire future biologists by highlighting the diverse roles available in the biosciences through our #IAmABiologist campaign. This year we’re looking for people to take part by either filming an engaging ‘day in the life’ video or sharing an image of themselves on social media using the hashtag #IAmABiologist and tagging us during Biology Week on your social media channel of choice! If you would like to film a video, we would suggest that you film clips of yourself as you work and then record a voiceover to go alongside it.

Memory Game: Download the Memory Game activity to play with your class or STEM club during Biology Week – test your students’ memory and learn more about the biosciences together in this fun activity. There will be a new version available from Biology Week. 

Other events and resources

Animals and Behaviour 

Animals on the Move: This resource is aimed at Key Stage Two and covers the topic areas of all living things and habitats.

Biology Colouring Book: Enjoy 14 pages of pure colouring joy, drawn by scientists, featuring activities like masks and puzzles — an education activity produced by the Association of the Study of Animal Behaviour. 

Birds and Nests: Marvels of Architecture & Design: This Key Stage One resource was developed to meet the needs for illustrative materials to help teach two aspects of the Science curriculum: properties of materials and adaptation/life processes.

Crawling Caterpillars: Aimed at upper Key Stage Two, this resource investigates whether moth caterpillars move in a straight line when they seek a refuge. It links to the topic areas of all living things and habitats.

Finding Food: Aimed at Key Stage Two, this resource provides investigations, practical activities, worksheets, and puzzles on the topic areas of animals and habitats.

Foraging and Feeding: Five fabulous lesson plans and lots of games to teach key stage one and two students about the behaviour of animals in natural environments. 

Garden Bird Identification: Identification of birds found in most gardens. This resource could be used alongside the nest building and feed the birds activities.

Higher Education Resources: teaching, lab and video resources including titles, ‘Activity levels in fruit flies depending on temperature’, ‘Vigilance behaviour in meerkats’, ‘Changes in plumage in Canada goose goslings’, ‘Vigilance behaviour in barnacle geese’, and ‘Deer blind date’.

Let’s Ask the Animals: This video looks at farm animals and the processes they share with humans. Comparing basic needs including companionship, nutrition, exercise, and keeping clean, we find many similarities.

Mini Animals: This resource links to the topics of mini-beasts and habitats. The resource suggests activities and provides worksheets to use in outdoor areas to observe, record, and identify mini-animals. 

Parental Behaviour of Blue Tits: This Key Stages One and Two resource links to the topic areas of animals, habitats, and adaptation. It includes a film showing footage of the behaviour of parental blue tits, and has a series of activity worksheets. 

Scents and Sensibilities: A game for primary school pupils to explore the use of smell in social interactions. Could be part of a lesson on scientific work/scientists, senses, or adaptation and evolution.

Science Fair Activity Packs: Here are some animal behaviour resources which have been designed to use as practical activities for science fairs, exhibitions, open days, and such like.

Secondary and Post-16 Educational Resources: These resources cover a whole range of animal behaviours from mammals to insects and includes a resource on ‘How to avoid being eaten’ and ‘Human fear of animals’.

The Behaviour of Brine Shrimp: This Key Stage Two resource provides activity ideas for investigating whether brine shrimps shoal when swimming and if they prefer to swim at the edge or in the centre of a dish.

Women in Animal Behaviour Science Posters: Download free posters celebrating women in animal behaviour science. Teachers can request hard copies for their classrooms by emailing education@asab.org — an education activity produced by the Association of the Study of Animal Behaviour.

Cells, Genetics and Microbiology

Cell and Molecular Biology: A collection of online information pages outlining what a cell is, where it they are found and what they do. This collection also touches on careers and courses.

Cells Unpacked- A Look Inside at Cell Inclusions: A cell may look peaceful but inside there is a whole factory bustling with activity. Take a tour around cell components and organelles by exploring the information pages.

The Society of Cells and a Community of Reactions: Get a deeper understanding of what makes a cell tick, from division to death, what does a cell actually do?

Chemical Engineering

Engineering a Sustainable World Virtual Work Experience: This IChemE resource contains lots of interactive tasks for 14 to 18 year olds to discover what chemical, biochemical, and process engineering is all about and where chemical engineers work.

Online Climate Game: Can You reach Net Zero by 2050? This IChemE game brings to life some difficult decisions and the consequences of making them. Chemical engineers work in industries including energy, environment, water and many more: contributing to shaping the future and engineering a sustainable world.

Teaching Resources: Discover the IChemE resources to explain to students how chemical engineering impacts daily life and how it links to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Why Become an Chemical Engineer?: You can discover and explore what it’s like to be a chemical engineer working in different industries, by accessing the new IChemE interactive virtual work experience programme called 'Engineering a sustainable world'. Alongside the programme is a mini project called the ‘Sprint’ where you can try a real-world task.

Fungi and Mycology

Everyday Fungi: This collection of games and resources covers the role of fungi throughout history, in current human health and society, and in the future of the planet.

Fascinating Fungi Resources for Secondary Education: Learn all about the fungi behind zombie ants, Napoleon’s assassin, and Otzi the Iceman through these educational videos and leaflets. 

Fascinating Fungi Resources (ages 16+): Interested in fungi beyond GCSE level? Learn about their scary side with these resources and games covering human and plant fungal pathogens. 

Fungi in the Woods Craft Activity: This activity could form part of an art and craft session using different materials whilst learning about the role fungi play in woodland habitats. For ages 7 to 14.

How to make a spore print: Fungi spores are like plant seeds but are microscopic. Here you can learn how to make a fungi spore print to see them in their thousands. For ages 5-16.

Let’s Pretend to be Fungi: This activity takes children through the life cycle of a filamentous fungus and explains how, from a single spore, a fungus grows and feeds. For ages 7 to 14.

Waxcap Watch- Annual Autumn Survey: Plantlife's citizen science project that aims to identify new sites where waxcaps and other grassland fungi can be found. Participants simply record fungi they discover in different locations up and down the country. 

Plants and Ecology

Great Observation Share: The Great Observation Share (5-14 years) guides and inspires pupils to explore biodiversity and life on land by developing the scientific skill of close observational drawing.

Kitchen Classification: Use plants found in your kitchen, herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables, to create a classification diagram — an educational activity produced by Science & Plants for Schools.

Noticing Variation in Plants: Discover the variation in the plants around you, whether it’s houseplants, gardens, or wild spaces — an educational activity produced by Science & Plants for Schools. 

Nuts About Classification: Explore the classification system of life by examining the relationships between different nuts — an educational activity produced by Science & Plants for Schools.

Teaching Classification and Evolution Using Plants: Explore engaging ways to use plants to teach classification and evolution, inspiring students to connect with nature — an educational activity produced by Science & Plants for Schools. 

Big Biology Day: This event in Cambridge aims to engage, enthuse, and educate visitors in the rich world of biology and hopes to inspire the next generation of bioscientists by focussing on bioscience careers. With over 50 exhibitors from across the biology sector, this science-filled day promises to be exciting and inspiring for all.

Biofilm Busting Workshop: Join researchers from UCL’s Institute of Healthcare Engineering for a fun, hands-on workshop exploring the hidden world of bacteria and the challenges of antimicrobial resistance. This session is perfect for students in Years 11-13 who are curious about studying Biology, Medicine, and related subjects at university. 

RSPB's Fairburn Ings Binocular and Telescope Open Weekend- Day 1: Join the RSPB at Fairburn Ings to get expert guidance from the friendly expert team to help you get to know the ideal gear for your outdoor adventures.

RSPB's Titchwell Marsh BIG Weekend- Day 1: Join the RSPB during the autumn migration and high tides for a weekend of conservation talks, nature walks, and birding fun at one of North Norfolk's most iconic nature reserves.

Wellcome Photography Prize exhibition: The Wellcome Photography Prize, now in its 28th year, brings together stories of health, science, and human experience. It is open from 11-18 October at the Francis Crick Institute in London.

RSPB's Fairburn Ings Binocular and Telescope Open Weekend- Day 2: Join the RSPB at Fairburn Ings to get expert guidance from the friendly expert team to help you get to know the ideal gear for your outdoor adventures.

RSPB's Titchwell Marsh BIG Weekend- Day 2: Join the RSPB during the autumn migration and high tides for a weekend of conservation talks, nature walks, and birding fun at one of North Norfolk's most iconic nature reserves.

APHA Weybridge Science Open Day for students: The Animal and Plant Health Agency is running an open day for STEM students. The visit will allow the students an exclusive ‘behind the scenes look’ at the high security government site to find out more about the work involved. There will be talks, tours, and an exhibition by scientists from all science departments. 9-15 October — Sold Out.

Fellows’ Forum: In conversation with Doug Brown FRSB: RSB Fellows are invited to join a small, informal gathering with Dr Doug Brown FRSB, the incoming Chief Executive of the RSB. This virtual session offers a valuable opportunity to hear directly from Doug, ask questions, share insights, raise concerns, and contribute to shaping how the RSB can better support the biological sciences and its community.

ZSL Scientist in Your Classroom (13-17 Oct — Online): These free, interactive, online chats give students the opportunity to meet experts from the Zoological Society of London, exploring careers in biological and conservation science. Scientists share their experiences and insights giving students the chance to ask their own questions.

Immunology, biotechnology and deep-sea exploration webinar: Attendees will hear from a panel of speakers who took part in the RSB's A-Z of the Biosciences career shorts, and have the opportunity to put their questions to the panel to discover how their science really works. This event is ideal for anyone aged 11-19, their teachers, and after school STEM clubs, but is open to everyone at any age. Inspire your students and help to motivate the next generation of bioscientists!

BrockWatch- Badger Watching Citizen Science Project: Join the Badger Trust's BrockWatch, a national citizen science project inviting people across the UK to help uncover the hidden lives of badgers in towns and cities. Participants can get involved by setting up camera traps in their gardens or green spaces, or by classifying wildlife footage online through MammalWeb.

RSB Networking and Awards Ceremony: A networking and awards ceremony celebrating the achievements of the RSB's members and bioscience enthusiasts. Please note that attendance at this event is by invitation only. RSB members can apply to attend through the members ballot. The ballot will close on Sunday 14 September, and successful applicants will be notified by Friday 19 September.

'Fungi Connect' returns as part of UK Fungus Day: Fungi Connect aims to encourage young people up to age 18 to become inspired by the fungi around them, and to create their own pieces of work all about the Kingdom Fungi. Submissions close on 15 October.

Sip of Science: Some of the Francis Crick Institute’s scientists will be taking a break from their research to pop into the gallery and chat about their work with the public between 18:00-19:30 at the Francis Crick Institute in London. 

York Climate Connect Biodiversity Collage: A visual, interactive, and accessible workshop that aims to raise awareness around the ecological crisis. Based on the 2019 IPBES report from the UN, this collaborative workshop invites participants to share their knowledge while making this important scientific report fun and accessible.

Plant Health Visit to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: Join the RSB for a visit to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, a leading botanic garden and global centre for biodiversity science, which will include talks from plant health professionals and guided tours of the garden as part of the RSB Plant Health Series

Forensic anthropology — a lecture by Professor Lady Sue Black Hon FRSB: Join Professor Lady Sue Black, Baroness Black of Strome, one of the world's most prominent forensic anthropologists, as she explores science and the law — forensic anthropological research and its impact. Please note, this lecture is exclusive to RSB members. Due to the nature of this lecture, the talk is not suitable for those under the age of 18 and comes with a content warning.

Poo Trivia Quiz (Live Online): The Oxford Centre for Microbiome Studies are inviting families to join a live online Poo Trivia Quiz created by poo scientists to help you learn more about what happens in our guts and our toilets. Teams can join online and participate in the interactive online quiz from their devices. Quiz rounds will include 'poo science', 'poo health', 'poo in the news', and 'who’s poo is that?'

Animal Behaviour Infographic Competition 2025 (Closing date): This competition is asking young people aged 7-21 to design a poster that contains images and information about the animal behaviour of one or multiple species of non-human animals. The winning infographic in each category will be published in the ASAB scientific journal Animal Behaviour. Entries must be submitted by midnight on 18 October.

Escape Room: A Monstrous Discovery I: Step into the role of a forensic scientist using density tests, footprint measurements, polarised light, and fluorescence to uncover clues. Piece together the evidence in this escape-room-style investigation and discover how science helps solve real-life mysteries. An IF Oxford Science and Ideas Festival event.

Escape Room: A Monstrous Discovery III: A wild animal has escaped! Use your CSI skills to solve this escape-room-style puzzle. Follow the clues, piece together the mystery and uncover the truth. An IF Oxford Science and Ideas Festival event.

Explorazone: Get hands-on with experiments and demonstrations, meeting friendly experts at this IF Oxford event. See some of the most exciting science and meet the best and friendliest inventors in town for free. Try out dozens of interactive activities and demonstrations suitable for all ages.

Introduction to Citizen Science at Lochshore: In this TVC Scotland workshop you will learn how to effectively record and identify wildlife, understand why local wildlife recording is so important, and take away the skills and confidence to take part in or arrange Citizen Science activities of your own.

Poo Trivia Quiz (Live Online): The Oxford Centre for Microbiome Studies are inviting families to join a live online Poo Trivia Quiz created by poo scientists to help you learn more about what happens in our guts and our toilets. Teams can join online and participate in the interactive online quiz from their devices. Quiz rounds will include 'poo science', 'poo health', 'poo in the news', and 'who’s poo is that?'

Sea Slug Survey in the Rocky Shores: Join Ocean Connect in the search for sea slugs and nudibranchs on the rocky shores of Burleigh, Australia. Join the marine science team on their weekly sea slug survey to record and identify the species inhabiting the rocky shore habitat.