Following the announcement of our 11–14 age-group finalists, the Science Without Borders® Challenge continues with the 15–19 age group. Each year, the Challenge invites students to explore the ocean through both art and science—and this year’s finalists have done just that in remarkable ways.
Representing countries across the globe, including Canada, China, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and the United States, these talented young artists dive into the 2026 theme, “Microscopic Marine Life,” revealing a world that is rarely seen but deeply felt. Their artworks illuminate the hidden systems that sustain our planet, from oxygen-producing phytoplankton to deep-sea microbes driving chemical cycles far below the surface.
Through a range of creative approaches, these students transform the invisible into something tangible. Some reimagine microorganisms as vast, architectural forms or glowing ecosystems, while others focus on the delicate structures and life cycles of individual species. Many works explore powerful ideas of connection—between life and death, surface and deep sea, and humanity’s reliance on organisms too small to see.
What stands out most is not just the technical skill on display but the depth of understanding behind each piece. These artists highlight how microscopic marine life forms the foundation of ocean ecosystems, regulates Earth’s climate, and ultimately makes life as we know it possible.
We’re proud to celebrate this group of finalists, whose work challenges us to look more closely, think more deeply, and better appreciate the unseen forces shaping our world.
2026 Science Without Borders® Challenge Finalists (Ages 15-19)
"Blue Afterlife" by Sean Hur, Age 17, United States of America
ARTIST’S STATEMENT: This work explores how death in the ocean becomes part of an ongoing biological cycle. When a marine animal dies, its body sinks into the deep sea, where microorganisms decompose the remains. These particles combine with organic matter to form Marine Snow, which redistributes nutrients throughout the ocean. The death of a large organism supports microbial life, and the death of microorganisms in turn provides energy for other species. In the composition, a whale skull resting on the seafloor fills the picture plane. Microscopic organisms are brought to the foreground to emphasize their ecological role. The deep blue background represents the cold, lightless ocean, where microorganisms emit faint light. Though the space appears empty, it contains continuous biological activity. The work presents death not as disappearance, but as transformation within a connected marine system.
Stay tuned! We will announce the winners in the next couple of weeks.
