The 2025 Science Without Borders® Challenge has showcased the incredible creativity and scientific understanding of students from around the world. This year’s theme, “Marine Keystone Species,” inspired young artists to illustrate the vital role these species play in maintaining ocean ecosystems.

Students used diverse artistic styles and media to bring attention to marine keystone species such as plankton, sea stars, polar bears, corals, mangroves, and sea otters. Many depicted these species thriving in their natural environments, interacting with other organisms, and contributing to ecosystem balance. Some artwork highlighted their direct impact on their surroundings, while others portrayed the consequences of their decline, emphasizing the fragility of ocean ecosystems.

This year, we received over 1,300 qualifying submissions from 75 countries, with nearly 700 entries in the 11-14 year-old category alone. From this impressive talent pool, our judges selected 29 remarkable semi-finalists representing 14 countries. These young artists not only demonstrated artistic excellence but also provided compelling explanations of their chosen keystone species, their ecosystems, and how their artwork reflects the theme.

We are honored to showcase their work and invite you to meet our 11-14 year-old semi-finalists:

2025 Science Without Borders® Challenge Semi-Finalists (11-14 years old):