Get ready to be inspired! The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is delighted to reveal the finalists of the 2024 Science Without Borders® Challenge. This year’s theme is “Hidden Wonders of the Deep,” and we challenged young artists from around the world to create a piece of artwork that highlights the beauty and importance of deep-sea creatures or ecosystems. We received over 1,700 entries from 82 different countries, making the selection process challenging yet rewarding.
Each submission, from intricate illustrations of mysterious deep-sea creatures to captivating depictions of unique deep-sea ecosystems, contributed a unique perspective to understanding the ocean’s mysteries. After careful deliberation, our judges have chosen finalists whose exceptional artwork exceeded expectations in creativity, originality, and adherence to the theme.
The submissions were breathtaking, and we’re eager for you to see them. Without further ado, here are the finalists for Ages 11-14 of the 2024 Science Without Borders® Challenge. Prepare to be amazed by their artwork, which showcases deep-sea creatures and ecosystems, emphasizing the urgent need to preserve the deep sea.
"The Mysterious Creatures of the Deep Sea" by Валерия Колесникова, Age 13, Belarus
Artist's Statement: In the drawing, I displayed my idea of the beauty and diversity of deep-sea creatures. These unique and mysterious marine animals have individual adaptations for existence in their mysterious world. Anglerfish is one of the brightest representatives of the deep-sea fauna. The anglerfish has a kind of bait – a flashlight, which in pitch darkness attracts other deep-sea inhabitants with its bright light (in my drawing, these are bioluminescent fish) directly into the mouth of a formidable predator. Although we do not have a real opportunity to see these amazing deep-sea creatures, we must make every effort to preserve this wonderful and mysterious world that is their home.
