2021 Science Without Borders® Challenge Finalists: 15-19 year old students
The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is pleased to announce the finalists in our 2021 Science Without Borders® Challenge! This international student art contest engages students in important ocean issues through art. For this year’s competition, students were asked to illustrate one or more of the benefits mangroves provide to people, other organisms, or the environment.
Entries to the Science Without Borders® Challenge are judged in two categories based on age. Here are the finalists selected from the older group of applicants, students 15-19 years old:
"Protective Wings of Mangroves" by Lesana Behanova, Age 15, Slovakia
Artist's Statement: In my artwork I tried to capture the complex relationships in such an important ecosystem and metaphorically illustrate equilibrium, fragileness of mangroves endangered by short-sided action of mankind. All the mangroves life is personified as Egret, which has mangrove leaves instead of wings. These leaves symbolize protection for different species of animals and important source of nutrients as well. As you can see animals are standing on top of each other which symbolizes the fragile ecosystem inside of mangrove forests. It continues to tree roots and water. The mangroves together create one large tree. The water at the roots is calm, meanwhile water in the distance is wild and unpredictable. This shows the importance of mangroves during tides and storms which they slow down and absorb their wave energy. You can notice the human mouths in these storm waves which symbolizes the destructive hunger of humanity.
