News archive
Increase in A*s at biology GCSE
This year there has been an increase in the entries for science, additional science and for biology at GCSE. There has been an increase in the numbers of students achieving A* grades in biology up 0.1% to 13.3% of all candidates.
Biology most popular science on A level results day
Hundreds of thousands of teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their A and AS level results on Thursday.
Free online issue celebrates 50 years of biology education research
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Journal of Biological Education, editor Professor Ian Kinchin CBiol FRSB has put together a Virtual Special Issue highlighting some of the incredible research published in the journal over the past 50 years.
Colin Kleanthous FRSB named editor-in-chief of new joint journal
The Royal Society of Biology and the Biochemical Society are pleased to announce that Colin Kleanthous, professor of microbial biochemistry at The University of Oxford has been appointed as editor-in-chief of the brand new journal Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, coming in 2017.
Medals for UK pupils at International Biology Olympiad in Vietnam
Four of the UK’s most gifted pre-university students won medals at the 27th International Biology Olympiad in Hanoi, Vietnam last week.
Number of procedures using animals remains fairly constant
This morning the Home Office released the annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animals in 2015.
Hartlepool Teacher Wins School Biology Teacher of the Year Award
Rob Walker from High Tunstall College of Science, Hartlepool, has won the Secondary School Biology Teacher of the Year Award 2016. The Royal Society of Biology award seeks to identify and recognise the very best and most inspiring biology teachers in 11-18 education in the UK.
Help scientists monitor flying ants this summer
Flying ants often seem to appear on the same day in different locations in the UK – flying ant day. However, last year the long warm summer led to several waves of flying ants. How will this year's frequent rain and slow-to-start summer affect them?
RSB welcomes technical qualifications overhaul recommended by independent report
Today a report advising ministers to bring about a ‘fundamental shift’ in technical education in England has been published by the Independent Panel on Technical Education.
Jo Johnson: science and innovation 'will endure' in UK
Science and universities minister Jo Johnson has addressed the science community just days after the UK voted to leave the European Union.
UK science must be protected in wake of EU Referendum
Dr Mark Downs CSci FRSB, chief executive of the Royal Society of Biology comments on the UK decision to leave the European Union.
Society launches Plant Health Professional Register
Plant health inspectors will now be able to gain recognition as part of a new professional register from the Royal Society of Biology.
Global AMR review sets out plan to minimise threat of superbugs
An extensive review of the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) led by Lord Jim O’Neill has concluded by setting out a plan to prevent medicine ‘being cast back into the dark ages’ and requiring investment of $30 billion dollars.
Sir Alec Jeffreys captivates audience with unique story at RSB fundraising event
Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys FRS Hon FRSB, inventor of DNA fingerprinting, shared his inspiring story with Dr Alison Woollard FRSB and an audience of over 300 people at a special fundraising event for the Royal Society of Biology at the Science Museum in London last night.
Members elected at Society AGM
The Royal Society of Biology has elected two new members to positions on Council at its Annual General Meeting.
Society launches support framework for academics to focus on teaching
The Royal Society of Biology (RSB) has launched a framework to support academics looking to progress on a teaching focused pathway.
Hull lecturer wins national teaching award
Dr Katharine Hubbard, from the University of Hull, has won the Royal Society of Biology’s prestigious Higher Education Bioscience Teacher of the Year Award 2016.
RSB Fellows elected Fellows of the Royal Society
The Royal Society of Biology would like congratulate several of our Fellows who have been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society.
Obituary: Dr Barbara Knowles FRSB MBE
The Royal Society of Biology joins the family and friends of Dr Barbara Knowles in sadness at her death and in celebrating her life.
Society to offer free online training to teachers in Wales
Thanks to generous funding from the Welsh Government’s National Science Academy, the Royal Society of Biology is pleased to announce that it is developing a free online training module for teachers in Wales to support their continuing professional development.
Signs of hope for science advice
Researchers have been rightly worried by the prospect that from 1st May a clause in Government grants would make it extremely difficult for them to engage with policy making and advice.
Lords report on EU membership & UK science
The House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee published today the results of its enquiry into EU membership and UK science. The Royal Society of Biology welcomes publication of this timely report which helps to shed light on the complex and important relationship between EU membership and UK science.
Universities Honoured at Accreditation Awards Ceremony
One hundred and ninety six degree programmes at 20 universities have been formally awarded Degree Accreditation or Advanced Accreditation by the Royal Society of Biology at the 2016 awards ceremony.
Sir Paul Nurse helps RSB celebrate 50th birthday of Journal of Biological Education
Sir Paul Nurse has written a special commentary on science education to celebrate the 50th anniversary issue of the Journal of Biological Education, released this week.
Biology competition finalists compete to represent UK
Sixteen students have become finalists in the British Biology Olympiad (BBO) 2016 and will compete to represent the UK at this year's international competition in Vietnam.