Hidden Wonders Revealed: Youth Art Exhibit Debuts on the Peace Boat

June 27, 2024

Written by Amy Heemsoth

On Sunday, June 16, I had the incredible opportunity to represent the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation on the Peace Boat’s ship, the MV Pacific World, which docked in New York City to celebrate the United Nations World Oceans Day. This year’s theme, “Awaken New Depths,” set the stage for an event hosted by Peace Boat in partnership with various UN bodies and partners, such as ourselves, focusing on ocean and climate action. It was an inspiring experience to be a part of this event and an honor to showcase the remarkable talents of young artists through our Science Without Borders® Challenge.

We set up our “Hidden Wonders of the Deep” exhibit for the event, featuring outstanding artwork from the 2024 Science Without Borders® Challenge. I couldn’t be prouder to show off the winning entries, chosen from over 1,700 submissions spanning 82 countries. Through art, our annual international contest engages primary and secondary students aged 11-19 in ocean science and conservation issues. This year’s theme invited students to submit artwork depicting the mysterious and unique deep-sea creatures or ecosystems, highlighting the deep ocean’s often unseen beauty and diversity.

*The “Hidden Wonders of the Deep” exhibit is on display onboard the Peace Boat. Each artwork is accompanied by a placard detailing the artist and their creation.*

As I introduced the art exhibit to the audience, revealing that they were created by students as young as 11 years old, the viewers were visibly shocked and amazed. Witnessing such inspiring reactions from people of all ages reaffirmed the powerful impact of the artwork. These positive affirmations make me incredibly proud, knowing that the talents of these young artists can touch hearts and inspire change across generations.

*Amy Heemsoth, COO and Director of Education at the foundation, prepares to provide insights into the “Hidden Wonders of the Deep” exhibit and introduces the student winner to the audience.*

This event marked the debut of exhibiting the students’ artwork, and I plan to display it at other locations worldwide to continue spreading ocean awareness through art. The response from the audience was overwhelming. Many people expressed astonishment at the high quality and profound messages conveyed by the young artists.

*Amy Heemsoth engages viewers with fascinating insights into the students’ incredible artwork.*

One of our Science Without Borders® Challenge winners, Jenny Xu, our third-place winner for Ages 15-19, attended the event, providing a personal connection to the art. Reflecting on the experience, the young artist stated, “The genuine splendor of the ship amazed me. I’ve never been on a boat of such size, and this was a very unique and special experience. Watching the presentations, I realized there are so many amazing people doing incredible things.”

Jenny Xu, third place winner in the 15-19 age group, experiences the student artwork in person for the first time and engages in lively discussions about her own creation with fellow event participants. (Last photo courtesy of Peace Boat.)

Jenny’s excitement was unmistakable: “I didn’t think it would be possible to have my artwork showcased next to such amazing artists. It was definitely an exhilarating experience. I’m so happy to have attended and witnessed the immense talent on board.”

Our exhibit on the Peace Boat was more than just a beautiful art display—it was a call to action. It celebrated our oceans’ beauty and underscored the urgent need for innovative solutions and global cooperation to protect our marine environments for future generations. This event blended science, art, and activism, showing how each can contribute to a sustainable and vibrant future for our oceans. Being part of such an impactful event reaffirmed our mission’s importance and highlighted the incredible impact we can achieve through collaboration and creativity.

From Dialogue to Action: Ocean Foundations Gather in Stockholm

What can philanthropy accomplish when foundations working across ocean science, conservation, and sustainable development come together around a shared purpose?

That question was at the heart of the 6th UN Ocean Decade Foundations Dialogue, held September 7–9 in Stockholm, Sweden. The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation joined philanthropic organizations from around the world for three days of discussion, collaboration, and planning focused on accelerating progress during the second half of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Facilitated by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the UN Ocean Decade Foundations Dialogue is a growing network of more than 30 philanthropic organizations committed to advancing ocean science, collaboration, and action. Since its creation within the framework of the Ocean Decade, the Dialogue has provided foundations with a space to exchange ideas, develop partnerships, and explore how philanthropy can help advance a healthy and resilient ocean.

Hosted by the Voice of the Ocean Foundation (VOTO), this year’s gathering began with From Depth to Action, an Opening Forum that brought nearly 100 leaders from the Swedish and international ocean community together at…

Meet IFAN: Helping Bring Navigate with Care to the Next Generation

If you’ve ever seen a lighthouse flashing from the shore or a brightly colored buoy bobbing in the water, you’ve seen Aids to Navigation at work.

Aids to Navigation, often called AtoNs, help mariners navigate safely. They can mark channels, warn of hazards, help vessels determine their position, and provide other information people need to make safe decisions on the water. Around the world, these systems help guide everything from small recreational boats to large commercial or container ships.

But safe navigation isn’t only about protecting vessels and the people aboard them. The choices mariners make can also affect the animals and ecosystems beneath and around them.

That connection between maritime safety and ocean conservation is at the heart of this year’s Science Without Borders® Challenge—and of our partnership with this year’s theme sponsor, the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN).

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