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)
"The Life Beneath My Life" by Justin Yeh, Age 15, Taiwan
ARTIST’S STATEMENT: In this piece, I depict myself suspended underwater, surrounded by luminous microscopic marine life, bioluminescent microorganisms. The glowing green forms represent the invisible foundation of ocean ecosystems. Even though they’re unseen to the human eye, they produce over half of the Earth’s oxygen through photosynthesis and form the base of the marine food web. Diatoms and other microbes recycle nutrients, regulate carbon dioxide, and help stabilize our planet’s climate by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. By placing myself among these organisms, I emphasize our dependence on life we rarely notice. The bubbles and upward eye symbolize both fragility and hope, reminding viewers that protecting microscopic marine life represents protecting ourselves. This work invites reflection on how something that is seen as insignificant can have a huge impact in supporting ocean health and the balance of our planet.
Stay tuned! We will announce the winners in the next couple of weeks.
