Happy Earth Week! One of the ways we are celebrating Earth Week this year is by announcing the Science Without Borders® Challenge finalists. Each year we choose an ocean conservation theme to encourage students and teachers to learn about different important ocean topics. Our goal is for students to not only learn about the theme through art, but also create artwork that inspires others to want to learn about it too.
The theme for this year’s art contest was “The Magic of Mangroves.” Students were asked to learn about the importance of mangroves, that are not only essential to the wellbeing of the planet, but also are an essential resource for humans too. Based off responses from our student surveys, many learned a great deal about mangroves and came to appreciate them. Here is what some of our participants said:
“I am thankful that you gave us the opportunity to portray our thoughts with the medium of art and for this I learned about the importance of Ocean marine life and about the mangroves. I’m eager to visit the places where I can found mangroves naturally with my family. We will soon plan to see. I also want to be the part of any campaign regarding saving nature, mother earth and the environment.”
–Student age 11, Pakistan
“Before coming in contact with Science Without Borders I wasn’t aware of the depth of (importance of) the oceans. A major part of the oceans is a mystery still. I am thankful to Science Without Borders for their work in spreading the awareness and more.”
–Student age 13, India
“When I was working on my painting, the back of my mind keeps telling me that you do not have enough skills to compete. However, it did not matter to me even if my painting is not as amazing as the other participants, but it is my love for the ocean and the desire to protect the environment. It was what became my motivation to finish my work despite having a lot of school requirements to do.”
–Student age 17, Philippines
“I loved participating in this challenge. I had a little bit of knowledge about mangrove fauna, but I did not realize how important the flora was. I learned so much researching for my art. I definitely recommended this challenge to any middle or high-schooler.”
–Student age 15, United States
“I loved working on my artwork because I could give my artwork meaning while helping other people understand something important for everyone.”
–Student age 15, Germany
Each year these young artists inspire us to want to do more for the environment. Their passion for the ocean is evident and contagious. This Earth Week, we hope that these youth will inspire you to want to do more for the environment too. Without further ado, we are pleased to announce our Science Without Borders® Challenge finalists.
Finalists of the 2021 Science Without Borders® Challenge
Entries to the Science Without Borders® Challenge are judged in two categories based on age. Here are the finalists in each category:
Younger Students: 11-14 Years Old
"Propagules' Future" by Zihan Wang, Age 14, New York, United States of America
Artist's Statement: Mangroves are, in fact, the only species of trees that can tolerate salt water. While they’re thriving on ocean coasts, they’re also being a big help to people that live in coastal communities. These trees possess thick roots, which helps cushion the effect of storms from towns. Despite their great protective properties, deforestation is a problem wreaking havoc on these forests. Hope is the main focus in my piece. Mangrove saplings bring a new light of promise for this issue. Replanting is the best bet, and if the hope is for these trees to be saved, the distribution of these sprouts should be widespread, as shown by the flying envelopes. Looking up from the bottom of another envelope, every one of them contains a bright new world clean water, flocks of coastal birds, and teeming with mangroves.
Older Students: 15-19 Years Old
"Stop, Let's Preserve Our Mangroves" by Michelle Yang, Age 16, California, United States of America
Artist's Statement: This drawing illustrates a visual of an ecosystem around mangroves where animals, plants, and even humans depend on each other. Life goes on in this enchanted world: animals take in oxygen released from the mangroves, school of fish swims around the corals as the bigger fish and birds look for food, others like the otter and the raccoon playfully roam around their home like a normal day. But something is different this particular day. A hurricane is heading towards them as the three men are cutting down their home, oblivious to the fact that it will absorb the storm’s energy, saving lives. The woman in the foreground understands the problem and signals them to stop, as she goes into the water trying to save the animals. But is she trying to save them from the three men or the hurricane? It is up to the viewer to decide.
One Comment on “Announcing Finalists in the 2021 Science Without Borders® Challenge”
Jan Baldwin
Those young artists are not only talented, but have messages about the value of the world’s mangroves and the need to protect them. Bravo!