2025 Science Without Borders® Challenge: Introducing the 15-19 Year-Old Finalists

15-19 Year-Old Finalists

2nd Place (15-19 years old): "Bridge Between Waters and Worlds" by Kimin Kim, Age 17, Republic of Korea

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ARTIST'S STATEMENT: Mangroves stay still, rooted to the water and ground that they inhabit, yet are the hubs of ceaseless ecological activity. They filter the sediment that comes from sea to inland and vice versa; are the resting places of saltwater fish that come to lay eggs and the temporary homes of fry that will leave to join the ocean; and they even protect nearby seagrass beds and coral reefs by holding in particles that might cloud the water or litter other environments. Mangroves may not be as obviously active as other keystone species, but they are a vital part of not only mangrove forests but other environments too. They are the keystone of the bridge that upholds and links mangrove swamps and environments like the seagrass bed. They are an incredible symbol of how saltwater and freshwater, sea and land, ecosystem and ecosystem, and the entirety of planet Earth, are all connected.

Stay tuned! We will announce the winners in the next couple of weeks.

From Dialogue to Action: Ocean Foundations Gather in Stockholm

What can philanthropy accomplish when foundations working across ocean science, conservation, and sustainable development come together around a shared purpose?

That question was at the heart of the 6th UN Ocean Decade Foundations Dialogue, held September 7–9 in Stockholm, Sweden. The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation joined philanthropic organizations from around the world for three days of discussion, collaboration, and planning focused on accelerating progress during the second half of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Facilitated by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the UN Ocean Decade Foundations Dialogue is a growing network of more than 30 philanthropic organizations committed to advancing ocean science, collaboration, and action. Since its creation within the framework of the Ocean Decade, the Dialogue has provided foundations with a space to exchange ideas, develop partnerships, and explore how philanthropy can help advance a healthy and resilient ocean.

Hosted by the Voice of the Ocean Foundation (VOTO), this year’s gathering began with From Depth to Action, an Opening Forum that brought nearly 100 leaders from the Swedish and international ocean community together at…

Meet IFAN: Helping Bring Navigate with Care to the Next Generation

If you’ve ever seen a lighthouse flashing from the shore or a brightly colored buoy bobbing in the water, you’ve seen Aids to Navigation at work.

Aids to Navigation, often called AtoNs, help mariners navigate safely. They can mark channels, warn of hazards, help vessels determine their position, and provide other information people need to make safe decisions on the water. Around the world, these systems help guide everything from small recreational boats to large commercial or container ships.

But safe navigation isn’t only about protecting vessels and the people aboard them. The choices mariners make can also affect the animals and ecosystems beneath and around them.

That connection between maritime safety and ocean conservation is at the heart of this year’s Science Without Borders® Challenge—and of our partnership with this year’s theme sponsor, the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN).