Biology Olympiad

Every year the Biology department undertake the Biology Olympiad, keep your eyes peeled for posters announcing the dates. This is a great opportunity to push your scientific knowledge and problem solving skills. Here  is a link to some past paper questions to have a go at, these are also fantastic preparation for enterance exams or interviews. These are SUPPOSED to be CHALLENGING and really make you think about your biology knowledge in more detail. Here are the answers. If you have any question then ask your biology teacher to help you. 

Further Reading 

Through Carmel's well stocked library and e-library you have access to:

1) Biological Science review. This is written specifically for students studying A-level Biology, with articles related to topics we cover throughout the specification which will also take you beyond the specification and are excellently written with lots of further reading material. Why not have a look through and find articles about your favourite part of Biology? 

2) New scientist. This is written as a popular science magazine which has articles crossing all the different sciences, this is written for the general public so easily accessible for student studying A-level sciences. There are a fantastic range of articles that demonstrate how science isn't just split into Biology, Chemistry and Physics so have a look through and find something that interests you, why not keep a journal of which articles you found interesting and why! 

3) National geographic. Lots of articles which put biology into context. 

Here is also a link to The Biologist, a magazine run by the Institute of Biology, these have articles all about up to date research and investigation from the international world of Biology. It also includes some great interviews with people working in the field of Biology, what do their jobs entail, how did they get to where they are now etc. 

There are also lots of different popular science books out, these are just a selection of some of them that are available. Why not check if the library has a copy you can borrow, or if they can order the book in for you?

1. The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being, Alice Roberts. Alice Roberts combines embryology, genetics, anatomy, evolution and zoology to tell the incredible story of the human body
2. The Epigenetics Revolution, Nessa Carey. A fascinating introduction to epigenetics. If you enjoy this, follow up with Seed to Seed (see below).
3. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot. How one woman’s cancer cells changed the medical world forever, and because a multi-million dollar industry.
4. Bad Science, Ben Goldacre. Looking objectively at popular science reporting.
5. The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan. A very different approach to science writing, Michael Pollan turns our normal perspective on its head to consider how plants manipulate humans.
6. Almost Like A Whale, Steve Jones. Using contemporary science to update Charles Darwin’s “The Origin of the Species”.
7. Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine and Murder in the Scientific Revolution, Holly Tucker. The dramatic history of blood transfusions, from 17th century France onwards.
8. Seed to Seed, Nicholas Harberd. A research scientist tells the story of ten years of discovery in his own laboratory. A very valuable insight into contemporary genetics and epigenetics research, and what it means to be a scientist.
9. Calculus Diaries, Jennifer Ouellette. A non-mathematician finds out how maths can help you tackle anything – even a zombie apocalypse.
10. Life Ascending, Nick Lane. Where does DNA come from? How did the eye evolve? A reconstruction of evolutionary history through ten of its greatest landmarks.
11. Genome, Matt Ridley. 23 human chromosomes in 23 chapters.
12. The Energy of Life, Guy Brown. Introduction to the cutting-edge science of Bioenergetics

Cambridge recommended reading:

1. Molecular Biology of the cell. B.Alberts et al

2. Biochemistry. JM Berg

3. An introduction to genetic analysis. AJF Griffith et al

4. Through our eyes only? MS Dawkins.

5. The blind watchmaker. R Dawkins

6. In the blood. S. Jones

7. The symbiotic planet. L. Margulis.

TED talks 

TED talks are presentations by lots of different scientists across the world covering a huge variety of topics and areas. Many of these cross the different areas of science and can give you lots of information about jobs and current developments in the field of Biology.  

Wellcome trust 

The Wellcome trust  is an international organisation which supports current research into a number of areas for science. Their website is filled with articles and interviews which can give you lots of information about what is going on in the world of Biology, they are closely linked with genetics work as well and are event working on the current Ebola virus vaccine! 

Learn genetics 

Here are some great videos focusing on one of the quickest advancing areas in the field of Biology, but also a field we still know so little about- GENETICS! 

BBC News

Here is a link to the Science and Environment page which has lots of articles about what is happening in the world of science at the moment, great starting place to do some of your own research. 

Entrance exam questions 

Here is a link to a bank of questions that have appeared in some entrance exams, use these to test and push yourself. Remember with a lot of these types of questions it is not about getting the question right, it is also about developing thought patterns to help you tackle questions like these in the future. 

UCL has entrance exams for their Biology course, here is their link to some practice questions. 

Here is a link to practice UKCAT test, there are LOTS of practice questions on the internet for UKCAT and lots of great books you can buy to support you through the process. A lot of these are either stored in the library or can be borrowed from the Science work base. 

Here is a link to practice BMAT test, again, there are LOTS of practice questions on the internet and books available to support you through the process. 

Nuffield Research placement 

At the end of your first year you will be eligable to apply for a Nuffield research placement with either current pHD students, companies working within the science sector like AstraZeneca or universities during the summer of your first year at college. These placements are highly competitive and we have an excellent success rate with more of our students being offered places than similar sized colleges. You will need to write a short personal statement which the Science HA coordinator will support you with, the deadlines are quite strict so make sure you look out for posters containing further information. If you are lucky enough to be awarded a placement these are excellent to support your UCAS application for a science degree. These are NOT suitable for medics, dentists or vets. 

Headstart

Here is a link to further information about headstart, this is aimed at students who are thinking of combining their love of biology with their interest in engineering. Again these placements are quite competitive so make sure you are aware of the dates.