Undergraduate

The sixth National Student Biology Olympiad took place at Duy Tan University (DTU) from August 5 to 7, 2026, bringing together hundreds of students, faculty members, and experts from universities across Vietnam.

With the theme “Advancing Biology: Breaking New Ground with AI in the Digital Era,” the competition helped connect the academic community, foster innovation, and promote ideas for applying artificial intelligence to research and education in biology, health sciences, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.

A rigorous and fair assessment of contestants’ abilities

The competition was jointly organized by the Vietnam Association of Biology and DTU, under the auspices of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations and officially recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training.

This year’s Biology Olympiad attracted participants from numerous universities nationwide with strong education and research programs in biology, biotechnology, medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, and forestry. Participating institutions included the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University; the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City; the University of Science, Vietnam National University Hanoi; the University of Science, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City; Duy Tan University; Can Tho University; Hanoi University of Science and Technology; and Hanoi National University of Education, among others.

Prof. Dr. Huynh Van Chuong, Director General of the Quality Management Department

under the Ministry of Education and Training, presents Dr. Le Nguyen Bao (right)

with a Certificate of Merit from the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations

Prof. Dr. Huynh Van Chuong, Director General of the Quality Management Department under the Ministry of Education and Training, said: “The number of contestants increased sharply this year, reaching 164, compared with 55 in 2020, the inaugural year of the competition. This growth demonstrates the increasing interest among higher education institutions in identifying and nurturing students with the talent, passion, and aspiration to contribute to the life sciences. I highly commend DTU for committing substantial resources and making thorough preparations in terms of facilities, personnel, and other essential conditions to ensure that the competition was conducted safely, rigorously, and effectively. I also recognize the contributions of the Vietnam Association of Biology to establishing and developing a meaningful academic platform that nurtures students’ passion for scientific research.”

The theoretical examination was conducted under rigorous conditions at DTU

The 2026 National Student Biology Olympiad was not only a prestigious academic competition aimed at identifying young talent and strengthening research capabilities, but also a platform for promoting the application of advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, in education and practical applications across agriculture, forestry, fisheries, medicine, pharmacy, industry, and environmental science.

“The National Student Biology Olympiad is a prestigious academic platform that meets the expectations of educational institutions nationwide by facilitating connections and exchanges and identifying young talent in the life sciences, biotechnology, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, medicine, pharmacy, and environmental science. The sixth competition, hosted by Duy Tan University, incorporated technology into many stages of its preparation, testing, and grading processes while maintaining scientific rigor, creativity, and fairness,” said Prof. Dr. Le Tran Binh, President of the Vietnam Association of Biology and Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee.

Empowering young talent through AI

“We are living in an era in which Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Genetic Technology, Synthetic Biology, and Precision Medicine are profoundly transforming how biological research is conducted and applied. This creates new expectations for today’s students: they must not only have a strong foundation in their fields but also develop interdisciplinary thinking, digital competencies, and the capacity for innovation,” said People’s Teacher, Prof. Dr. Tran Huu Dang, Deputy Director of DTU and Chair of the Competition Organizing Committee.

Contestants participate in the practical examination in DTU’s modern, fully equipped laboratories

“One of the highlights of this year’s competition was the practical examination, which featured a wide range of visual, hands-on activities closely connected to real-world research. For the first time, contestants worked directly with live insect specimens, photographed their experimental results, examined the structures of biological macromolecules such as DNA and proteins, and conducted experiments related to plant respiration. These activities tested not only their knowledge but also their observational and laboratory skills, as well as their ability to address scientific problems directly,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Huy, of the University of Science, Vietnam National University Hanoi, and Deputy Head of the Examination Subcommittee.

“The theoretical examination, consisting of 100 questions for 164 contestants, was administered through the DTU Testing Service (DTS), developed by the DTU Center for Software Engineering (CSE). The system uses intelligent algorithms and AI to select and arrange questions and automatically randomize both questions and answer choices. It can generate a different test version for each contestant while ensuring that contestants seated near one another do not receive versions with the same question sequence or answer arrangement. This minimizes opportunities for communication and cheating while helping ensure a fair, transparent, and objective examination,” explained Nguyen Trong Thanh, MSc, Director of the DTU Center for Software Engineering. He was describing the technical solution designed to maintain stability, security, and fairness throughout the 2026 National Student Biology Olympiad.

DTU Students win seven awards at the National Student Biology Olympiad

To earn the competition’s prestigious awards, contestants had to complete a series of demanding, practice-oriented examinations that required not only a thorough command of theoretical knowledge but also strong hands-on skills in a professional laboratory environment.

DTU student Nguyen Thi Ngoc Han (sixth from left) receives a Second prize at the 2026 National Student Biology Olympiad

Building on the strengths of DTU’s academic programs in health sciences, biotechnology, medical laboratory technology, and biomedical engineering, as well as their rigorous preparation throughout their studies and research, members of the DTU team earned the following awards:

-    Two Second prizes: Luong Ngoc Mai Anh, a Dentistry student, and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Han, a Medicine student;
-    Four Third prizes: Trinh Nguyen Hong Minh, a Dentistry student; Le Thi Phuong Linh, a Biotechnology student; Dinh Quang Nhat, a Medicine student; and Nguyen Truong Ha Anh, a Medicine student; and
-    One Consolation prize: Nguyen Tam Nguyen, a Biotechnology student.

The DTU team celebrates its outstanding achievements

“I had the opportunity to challenge myself in both the theoretical and practical examinations. The in-depth content was closely connected to real-world applications, giving me the opportunity to test my understanding, apply my knowledge in practice, and learn many new things. I am very proud that DTU hosted the 2026 National Student Biology Olympiad. Competing at my own university was both an honor and a special experience for me and my teammates,” said Nguyen Thi Ngoc Han, a member of the DTU team who won a Second prize.

The closing ceremony of the sixth National Student Biology Olympiad at DTU

At the closing ceremony, the Organizing Committee presented Certificates of Merit and awards to teams and individuals with outstanding achievements, recognizing their efforts throughout this year’s Olympiad. The honors included:

-    Five best-performing teams;
-    23 teams recognized for outstanding achievements;
-    17 First prizes;
-    24 Second prizes;
-    24 Third prizes; and
-    36 Consolation prizes.

(Media Center)