Winners of the 2025 Science Without Borders® Challenge
The 2025 Science Without Borders® Challenge invited young artists from across the globe to create artwork highlighting species that play a critical role in maintaining the structure and health of ocean ecosystems with the theme, “Marine Keystone Species.” This theme encouraged students to illustrate the critical roles these species play in shaping and sustaining healthy ocean ecosystems.
We were amazed by the response—more than 1,300 entries from 75 countries poured in—each piece a unique interpretation of a marine keystone species, from sea otters and mangroves to corals and sharks. These species may not always be the most numerous or well-known, but they have an outsized impact on their environment. Their presence helps maintain biodiversity, balance food webs, and support ecosystem resilience. If a keystone species is removed, the entire ecosystem could shift dramatically or collapse. Through their art, students explored these complex ecological relationships and made a compelling case for ocean conservation.
These stunning artworks showcase diverse marine life, from foundational species at the base of the food web and grazers to apex predators and ecosystem engineers. Prepare to be inspired by their imaginative interpretations and powerful messages about protecting the species that keep our ocean in balance. We are proud to showcase the 2025 Challenge winners, whose art encourages us to appreciate the species that keep our oceans healthy and in balance.
Winners & Finalists Ages 11-14:
1st Place (11-14 years old): "Melting Grounds" by Gia Kim, Age 12, United States of America
ARTIST STATEMENT: This artwork describes the Antarctic krill fleeing their iceberg habitat that’s melting underwater. Antarctic krill are known as a keystone species because of their wide food chain, which many marine animals (including us) eat in the Antarctic Ocean. However, their numbers are decreasing because of sea ice loss, which causes them to lose their habitat.
Winners & Finalists Ages 15-19:
2nd Place (15-19 years old): "Bridge Between Waters and Worlds" by Kimin Kim, Age 17, Republic of Korea
ARTIST'S STATEMENT: Mangroves stay still, rooted to the water and ground that they inhabit, yet are the hubs of ceaseless ecological activity. They filter the sediment that comes from sea to inland and vice versa; are the resting places of saltwater fish that come to lay eggs and the temporary homes of fry that will leave to join the ocean; and they even protect nearby seagrass beds and coral reefs by holding in particles that might cloud the water or litter other environments. Mangroves may not be as obviously active as other keystone species, but they are a vital part of not only mangrove forests but other environments too. They are the keystone of the bridge that upholds and links mangrove swamps and environments like the seagrass bed. They are an incredible symbol of how saltwater and freshwater, sea and land, ecosystem and ecosystem, and the entirety of planet Earth, are all connected.
