Anisha Taylor
Outreach Officer, The Physiological Society

https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.106.9

Back in October we celebrated our fourth Physiology Friday as part of the Biology Week’s annual festivities. Our Members carried out activities all over the country and beyond; some visited local schools or had physiology fun days on campus, while others took activities into their local communities with pop-ups in shopping centres and at science festivals. We, once again, held our annual physiology baking competition, BioBakes!

Our physiologist judge Charlotte Haigh, Associated Professor of Human Physiology at the University of Leeds, and cake judge Richard Burr, Great British Bake-Off Finalist 2014 and author of Bake it Yourself, whittled down the 86 entries to a shortlist of 10 put to a public vote held during Biology Week. They also each got a chance to choose their favourite cake for the Physiologist’s Choice and Baker’s Choice prize. Many congratulations to all the winners!

Physiologist’s Choice Award

Knee Jerk Reaction – Sports Therapy Unit, University of Bedfordshire

Charlotte had the tough decision of choosing the Physiologist’s Choice award. Her favourite, and the cake she felt best represented physiology, was Knee Jerk Reaction. Congratulations to the Sports Therapy Unit at The University of Bedfordshire for their cake illustrating the patellar tendon reflex test.

Public Choice Award

In Utero – Olivia Isaac

The cakes shortlisted for our coveted Public Choice Award were pitted against each other to find the ultimate winner. After casting thousands of votes, the public chose Olivia Isaac’s beautifully crafted In Utero. Richard added that this cake was ‘obviously a true labour of love’.

Baker’s Choice Award

Romance and Reality – David Howells

With a keen interest in science and baking, Richard was back for a second year of judging. He was taken aback by all the entries but ended up awarding the Baker’s Choice prize to David Howells for his cake Romance and Reality, commenting that it was ‘Beautifully piped and a very thoughtful and clever design’.