Royal Society of Biology

26/06/2026

Rebecca Bojarski, one of RSB's Apprentices of the Year 2025, and Brian Yates, an environmental consultant with a love of musical theatre – find out more about the latest RSB members featured in The Biologist magazine.

Read the article: biologist.rsb.org.uk/member_profiles

25/06/2026

Get involved in Biology Week 2026!

Join us from 8–18 October to celebrate the amazing world of biology. From expert talks and careers inspiration to hands-on activities, there's something for everyone.

Why not come to one of our flagship events, including:
- Tuesday 13 October: 'From Nature to Neuroscience', an online STEM Club talk and Q&A for schools.
- Wednesday 14 October: Networking and Awards Ceremony, celebrating the achievements of our members and the bioscience community.
- Thursday 15 October - Visit to Oxford Botanic Garden, including talks from plant health professionals and a tour of the gardens.
- And more!

Don't forget that you can also plan your own event or activity, or let us know about a relevant resource, and we will help promote it on our website.

Find out more: www.rsb.org.uk/biology-week

24/06/2026

We are pleased to have appointed two new Trainee Trustees for a year through our Support, Experience, Acknowledge, Train (SEAT) Trainee Trustee Scheme. The Scheme plays a vital role in widening participation in charity governance by supporting early career individuals to gain meaningful experience on the RSB Council.

The first of our Trainee Trustees is Hamish Paton. Hamish is currently studying Microbiology BSc(Hons) at the University of Dundee. He also works at the Scottish Wildlife Trust engaging with the public. Hamish joined the SEAT Scheme with a keen interest in education policy, research culture, and employability in the early career stages, and aims to gain a better understanding of policy and governance.

Watch his video to find out why Hamish applied, and check back in a few weeks for a video from our second Trainee Trustee!

24/06/2026

Help us choose our Photography Competition winners!

This year, our Photography Competition entrants explored the theme of 'Colours of Nature'. We have shortlisted the entries, and now it’s your turn to help decide the winners!

📆 The vote will close at midnight (UK) on Wednesday 1 July.

Vote now: www.surveymonkey.com/r/RSBphotovote

23/06/2026

If you have half an hour to spare this week, then why not have a listen to the 'Building a sense of belonging with the Pride in Microbiology network' podcast from our Member Organisation the Microbiology Society? 👇

🎧This Pride Month, Dr Bruno Francesco Rodrigues de Oliveira and Dr Landon Getz, two of the founders of the Pride in Microbiology network, join Lilly on Microbe Talk to discuss why their work to harness community and professional development opportunities for LGBTQ+ scientists around the world is as important as ever. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcast, or follow the link in bio🔗

22/06/2026

Is the purpose of the school garden more than just growing plants?

How a school garden is used depends, largely, on the teachers at that school. A study, published in the latest issue of the Journal of Biological Education, set out to determine the general interest of teachers in plants, and their attitudes towards the ecosystem services provided by school gardens.

Read the article: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00219266.2025.2489512

19/06/2026

Did you know that we have a special category in our BioArtAttack competition that focuses on specimen drawings?

Artwork entered into the Nancy Rothwell Prize must include labels and descriptions on the artwork itself, and can be of any animal, plant or fungi.

The prize for this category is open to all young people aged 7-18 from anywhere in the world.

Find out more: www.rsb.org.uk/2dbioartattack

18/06/2026

Have you got an idea for a citizen science survey, event, or activity but need funding? Then apply to our 2026 Outreach and Engagement Grant Scheme!

This grant, exclusively for RSB members, is for funding of up to £1,000. We are looking for projects that will run between 8 October 2026 and 30 May 2027.

These projects should collect data to address clearly defined, engaging, and accessible scientific questions, while promoting public engagement with biology and inspiring audiences through the wonders of biology.

📆 Apply by 6 July 2026

Find out more, including T&Cs: www.rsb.org.uk/oe-grants

17/06/2026

"...the hope is that biophotons might reveal an entirely new layer of communication and signalling in living systems."

Did you know that most living organisms give off ultra weak photon emissions? The latest issue of The Biologist explores where so-called 'biophotons' come from and their potential uses.

Read the article: biologist.rsb.org.uk/seeing_the_light

17/06/2026

We're pleased to announce that the Biology Week Spelling Bee is returning again this autumn!

Literacy is a key factor in an individual’s success in science exams. When learning science, students encounter a huge number and variety of new words, that aren't commonly used outside of science classrooms. This competition allows them to practice accurate spelling of those words.

The competition, organised by Jon Hale and supported by RSB grant funding, is fully adaptable to support your students and maximise uptake.

Key things to note:
- The competition is open to all secondary school students across the UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man.
- If you are based a little further afield your students are welcome to take part but are not eligible for physical prizes.
- It begins in late September, with an asynchronous final during Biology Week on Friday 16 October.
- Final registration will close on 16 September.

Find out more and register today! https://buff.ly/MRPzlU4