2025 Science Without Borders® Challenge Finalists: 11-14 year old students
The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is delighted to announce the finalists in our 2025 Science Without Borders® Challenge! This year’s theme, “Marine Keystone Species,” invited young artists from across the globe to explore 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 a powerful testament to students’ talent and environmental awareness worldwide. 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.
Entries to the Science Without Borders® Challenge are judged in two categories based on age. Here are the finalists selected from the younger group of applicants, students 11-14 years old:
"⭐︎Lobstar⭐︎" by Lisa Tamada, Age 13, Japan
ARTIST STATEMENT: Each tiny dot in my painting symbolizes how every small action that we need to take can ensure the health of the ocean and its inhabitants, including lobsters (which are my favorite species!) I also wanted to express how lobsters, like all creatures, are a result of countless small interactions over millions of years. In a way, it is a miracle that lobsters exist today. Therefore, the dots represent a journey, both in the past and the future, that have led and will lead marine life to thrive in such a diverse and beautiful way. I painted a lobster by just using dots to show how important lobsters are in marine ecosystems. Lobsters are keystone species because they help maintain the balance in the ocean by feeding other animals and digging the seafloor. My dot art represents how every small action contributes to the bigger picture of the ecosystem’s health.