https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.101.8

We are delighted to announce the winners of our annual Biology Week ‘Bio-Bodies Bake-Off’. The competition, launched at the beginning of September as part of the lead up to the yearly October celebration of bioscience challenged the public to create physiology themed baked goods.

We received 140 entries and 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 140 cakes to a shortlist of 10 for a public vote held in Biology Week. They also each got a change to choose their favourite cake for the Physiologist Choice and Baker’s Choice prize.

The Winners
The Physiologist Choice, awarded by Charlotte Haigh, was given to Society Member Carrie Duckworth for her cake ‘Gut Feeling’ (pictured top). In her cake description she said ‘This cake holds the key to preventing bacterial invasion in the small intestine’.

Carrie won brain and heart cookie cutters and a giant plush neuron for her efforts.

The Bakers Choice, awarded by Richard Burr, was given to Claire Lewis from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast for her cake ‘Muscle Contraction’ (middle).

‘Love the upstanding axon! There must be a bit of wire work in there. Good icing and realistic muscle fibres […] Good colour match, excellent use of royal icing to make the cell body and dendrites’ commented Richard.

Claire took away a copy of Richard Burr’s book as part of her prize.

The public were tasked with choosing the overall winner, with 811 votes, 17 year old Laura Bullimore, and Caitlin McDowell and 18 year old Ella Ifill-Williams took the crowns with their cake ‘Bun in the oven’ showing the progression of a baby in the womb from 2 months to 7 months (pictured bottom).

The girls won a copy of Richard’s book, heart and brain cookie cutters, and a year’s subscription to ‘Cake Heaven’ magazine.

Many congratulations to all the winners, we can’t wait to see next year’s bakes!