Finalists of the 2022 Science Without Borders Challenge (Ages 15-19)!

May 3, 2022

Written by Liz Thompson

Last week, we proudly announced the finalists in the ages 11-14 category of our 2022 Science Without Borders® Challenge. Today, we are excited to announce the 15-19 year-old finalists of our art contest.

Contest finalists are from China, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The theme, “Ridge to Reef” was portrayed in the students’ artwork through a variety of different actions such as planting corals, cleaning up pollution, preventing overfishing, and planting trees. We were amazed by these students’ creativity, execution of the theme, and artistic abilities.

Without further ado, please meet our 15-19 year old finalists:

"The Trash That Lingers" by Ashley Indarto, Age 16, Indonesia

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ARTIST’S STATEMENT: The ongoing pandemic has led to an increase in the consumption of disposable masks, restaurant takeouts, and online shopping. With these comes negative consequences: plastic waste. Plastic waste has been a persistent contender to water pollution. It takes ages to decompose and is an eyesore to what once was a scenic ocean view. In addition, plastic pollution causes corals to be more vulnerable to disease, catalyzing corals’ deterioration. My composition depicts a person swimming beneath polluted waters. This painting consists of a few contributors to the destruction of coral reefs. My hope with this painting is to raise awareness of water pollution, urging people to stop contributing to the destruction of coral reefs.

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

From Mangrove Mud to Meaningful Work: Desta’s J.A.M.I.N. Journey

Some students I remember for their grades, their quick answers, or a moment that made the whole class laugh. Others I remember for the way they stepped into the mangroves.

Desta was the kind of student who thrived outdoors. While some students hesitated at the edge of the mud, he walked right in. And when he inevitably got stuck — because everyone does — he didn’t get frustrated. He laughed. Covered in mud, holding mangrove propagules in his hands, he embraced the experience fully.

Even then, it was clear that he was connecting with the environment in a way that went beyond the lesson plan…

From Students to Stewards: A Full-Circle Moment for J.A.M.I.N.

There are certain faces you never forget.

Over the years, hundreds of students have stepped into mangrove forests with us through the Jamaica Awareness of Mangroves in Nature (J.A.M.I.N.) program. I may not always remember every name, but I remember the expressions — the hesitation before stepping into thick mud, the laughter when someone loses a shoe, the look of surprise when they catch that unmistakable sulfur smell rising from the mangrove soil…

"The Trash That Lingers" by Ashley Indarto, Age 16, Indonesia

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From Mangrove Mud to Meaningful Work: Desta’s J.A.M.I.N. Journey

From Students to Stewards: A Full-Circle Moment for J.A.M.I.N.