Thank you to everyone who applied to our 2023 Science Without Borders® Challenge! We are captivated and inspired with the artwork that we received for this year’s contest, “The Sixth Extinction.” The students’ artwork drew attention to a wide range of endangered marine species, spanning from majestic marine megafauna, like whales, polar bears, sharks, sea turtles, and sea birds, to smaller fascinating marine organisms like fishes, corals, sea stars, snails, and shrimp. They have done an excellent job of highlighting the importance of these endangered species and have inspired us to take action towards their conservation.

Overall, we received almost 1,200 qualifying pieces of artwork from 66 different countries. This is far and away the most entries we have ever received for the contest! In the 11-14 year-old category, we received almost 650 submissions. The students portrayed marine endangered organism(s) in their artwork in a variety of ways. Some depicted the beauty of their chosen organism(s), while others decided to illustrate the reason(s) for the decline of the marine species. A variety of styles and media were also used to create these incredible pieces of art.

Our judges chose 37 remarkable pieces of artwork in the 11-14 year-old category to become semi-finalists. These young artists span 13 countries around the world. Not only was their artwork impressive, but they also excelled in providing clear explanations in their written descriptions, detailing the reasons why these marine organisms are facing endangerment.

We invite you to meet our 11-14 year-old semi-finalists:

2023 Science Without Borders® Challenge Semi-Finalists: Ages 11-14