2023 Science Without Borders® Challenge Finalists: 15-19 year old students
The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is delighted to announce the finalists in our 2023 Science Without Borders® Challenge! This international contest engages students in important ocean issues through art. This year we asked students to create a piece of art that highlights the beauty and importance of a marine species that is on the brink of extinction.
This year we received more entries than ever before. Over 1,200 entries flooded in from 67 different countries, and let us tell you, it was no easy feat to choose the finalists. We hope you will be as impressed with the submissions we received as we were.
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:
"Mother's Protection" by Yewon Lee, Age 16, United States of America
ARTIST’S STATEMENT: Despite being one of the most iconic marine animals, blue whales are on the brink of extinction mostly due to human activities, including whaling and ship collisions. Although various recovery plans for blue whales have been made, they are still classified as endangered species. In my art piece, I aimed to evoke positive emotions by painting a mother whale with her child showcasing their beauty. However, I also wanted to convey the urgent need for conservation efforts by painting vibrant and colorful corals gradually losing their color and dying which symbolize the dire circumstances they are in. I hope this painting can successfully deliver the importance of preserving these majestic animals and inspire action toward their conservation.
