Cambridge Biology Challenge

writes Yuvraj B (L6ths):

From the very beginning, we knew we wanted to do something a little different. Rather than a traditional presentation or documentary-style video, we decided to take a more imaginative approach. Our final piece was a five-minute video, framed around a person flicking through TV channels — and on each channel, one of us appeared discussing the science behind dreaming. To take it a step further, we created themed adverts packed with brain-related puns, which added a fun and memorable twist.

The journey wasn’t easy. With a strict five-minute time limit and a topic that demanded serious academic consideration, writing the script proved a real challenge. We sifted through a mountain of research papers, articles and journals to ensure our content was both accurate and thought-provoking. Once the script was finalised, each of us took on a character role, and we even roped in some friends to play a few side characters.

Filming was a highlight. We transformed parts of the biology classrooms into makeshift sets, got creative with green screens, and makeshift props to bring our ideas to life. I took on the editing process, which was no small feat, carefully stitching together clips to create something that was both informative and visually engaging.

After weeks of hard work, we submitted our video to Cambridge — and waited.

A few weeks ago, we received the incredible news: we had been awarded a Distinction and were named Runners-Up overall, out of thousands of entries from across the country. What’s more, despite only submitting one of the four available tasks in the wider competition, we still managed to rank 27th nationally.

We’re incredibly proud of our achievement and already looking forward to next year’s challenge. A massive thank you goes to Mrs Pratt for all your support, guidance and feedback throughout the process — we couldn’t have done it without you!

Find the video here: https://youtu.be/lMzpifvxHmk