There’s still time to enter this year’s Science Without Borders® Challenge! Students must submit their artwork by March 3, 2025, for a chance to win scholarships of up to $500.
The theme for the 2025 Science Without Borders® Challenge is “Marine Keystone Species.” This year, we invite students to create artwork showcasing a marine keystone species and its vital role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems. Keystone species are organisms that have an outsized impact on their environment relative to their abundance. They play a crucial role in maintaining the structure, balance, and health of their ecosystems. Without them, entire ecosystems could collapse or undergo dramatic changes. Examples include sea otters, which control sea urchin populations and prevent overgrazing of kelp forests; coral, which provides a structure and essential habitats for countless marine species; and sharks, which maintain the balance of marine food webs as apex predators.
The Science Without Borders® Challenge is an annual art competition that engages students in marine science and conservation through art. It encourages students to learn more about the ocean and raise awareness of the need to protect it. The international competition is open to primary and secondary school students 11-19 years old. Artwork will be judged in two categories based on age – 11-14 year-olds and 15-19 year-olds. In each category, the first-place winners will receive a $500 scholarship, second-place winners a $350 scholarship, and the third-place winners a $200 scholarship. We also will have a ‘People’s Choice’ award this year, where the winners in each age group will receive a $50 scholarship. We strongly encourage international students to apply and look forward to judging a large and diverse pool of entries this year.
How to Enter
- Create an original, hand-drawn or painted, two-dimensional artwork that reflects the theme.
- Write an artist’s statement explaining how your artwork relates to marine keystone species.
- Fill out the online entry form and upload a photo of your artwork.
If the student entering is under 13, a parental consent form is required, so don’t wait until the last minute! Note that when the semi-finalists are announced, they must also mail in their original artwork.
Tips for Success
To help students create standout submissions, check out the Tips for Success and the Contest Rules on the Foundation’s website. We also strongly encourage students to Learn About the Theme and the species they choose to illustrate before they begin their artwork. These resources provide guidance on understanding the theme, crafting a compelling artist’s statement, and ensuring the artwork is neat, original, and impactful.
How Teachers and Parents Can Help
Teachers, this contest is a fantastic classroom project! It’s a great way to incorporate STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) education into your classrooms. It also helps to improve ocean literacy by getting students excited to learn more about the ocean through art. Although the contest requires students to apply individually, it is a great assignment to give to an entire class. We have provided Educational Resources for Teachers to help teachers integrate this into art and science classrooms worldwide.
Parents, you can encourage your child’s creativity at home and help them apply online before the deadline.
Inspire the Next Generation of Ocean Advocates
The Science Without Borders® Challenge is more than an art contest—it’s a way to empower students to think critically about ocean conservation and inspire others to take action. By participating, your students can become part of a global movement to protect our planet’s most precious resource.
For more information and to apply, visit www.lof.org/SWBChallenge.
Learn More & Apply
Don’t miss your chance to inspire change and showcase your creativity in the Science Without Borders® Challenge! This international art competition invites students aged 11-19 to create artwork based on this year’s theme: “Marine Keystone Species.” Highlight the vital role these species play in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems and compete for scholarships of up to $500. The competition is open to primary and secondary students worldwide, with awards in two age categories (11-14 and 15-19). The deadline to apply is March 3, 2025. Start your masterpiece today and help raise awareness about the importance of healthy oceans!
