bodies of the International Biology Olympiad

2. IBO bodies
1) IBO Coordinating Center
The IBO Coordinating Center acts as a secretariat of the IBO1.
It fulfils the following functions:

• a) it ensures information services for all member countries and for the related international institutions (UNESCO, IUBS, etc),
• b) it summons the IBO Advisory Board and the meeting of coordinators if necessary; ensures preparation and distribution of materials to these meetings,
• c) it promotes contacts with other non-IBO member countries,
• d) it coordinates the invitation of observers from other non-IBO member countries by the future host country,
• e) it accumulates relevant documentation about the competition,
• f) it registers and renews addresses of coordinators, their deputies, observers and of institutions taking part in the IBO
• g) it collects materials and information regarding the IBO and other biological competitions, including descriptions of national biology Olympiads or similar competitions used to select IBO contestants.

The Coordination Center fulfils its activities in collaboration with the IBO Steering

Committee, IBO member countries and other organizations in accordance with
the aims of the IBO. It organizes the annual IBO Advisory Board meeting. The
Ministry of Education of the country where the Center is located staffs the IBO
Coordinating Center. The Center presents a yearly report about its activities and
the financial situation at the meeting of coordinators.
Board of the Coordinators
Main decisions about aims and activities of the IBO are taken by the Board of
Coordinators that meets annually during each IBO competition. A member
country that sends students to compete in the IBO must appoint one coordinator
to represent the country in this board.
3) Steering Committee
A steering committee is responsible for managing daily IBO events and
procedures. It consists of five members plus the head of the Coordinating Center
in Prague. The members of the steering committee serve a four-year period and
they can be re-elected2. Their election is a two-step process. Each member
country first nominates maximum 4 names to the Coordinating Center. The final
election occurs during the Coordinators Meeting.
Eligible candidates are country coordinators or team leaders having been present
in at least three IBOs before the election year. All candidates require the
nomination of at least five IBO member countries effectively participating in the
election procedure. The steering committee starts its function officially on
September 1st following the election.
4) IBO Chairperson.
The IBO steering committee chooses one of its members to function as IBO
Chairperson, which means chairing IBO meetings, represent the IBO in official
occasions, and keep up contact with the Coordinating Center of the IBO about its
activities.
The country delivering the IBO Chairperson is allowed to bring a free observer to
the IBO.
5) IBO Advisory Board
The IBO Advisory Board advises the Steering Committee and the Board of the
Coordinators in maintaining high standards of IBO. The Chairperson chairs the
Board. It consists of representatives of the countries organizing the two previous
and the two subsequent IBOs. It may also invite other experts as participants to
its annual meeting to prepare recommendations and proposals for the Board of
the Coordinators. Those experts should apply at the latest 4 weeks before the
actual AB meeting. Topics to be discussed should be submitted at least 14 days
before the meeting. Proposals received later than 2 weeks before the meeting will
not be accepted.
Recommendations of the IBO Advisory Board concerning the general chapters of
the guide will become valid at the end of March each year if no arguments are
brought up against it.
The Advisory Board can propose electronic voting (by e-mail, on-line or similar)
for important changes in the Organization Rules. In this case:

• a the vote choice is “Yes / No / Abstaining”;
• b the decision is made by the absolute majority of IBO member countries;
• c if no majority vote is achieved, then the point will be brought to the next IBO

Coordinators Meeting.
International Jury
An International Jury is an ad hoc committee formed for each IBO competition. A
distinguished scientist appointed by the IBO organizer chairs it. Its members
consist of 2 delegates or team leaders from each competing country (cf. § 9).