Winners of the 2020 Science Without Borders® Challenge
The 2020 Science Without Borders® Challenge invited students from around the world to “Take Action: Conserve Coral Reefs,” inspiring them to create artwork that highlights how we can protect these vital ecosystems. With over 650 submissions from 43 countries, this year’s contest showcased an incredible range of talent and creativity. Students illustrated diverse conservation efforts, from reducing pollution and educating communities to restoring coral reefs through active stewardship.
High school first-place winner Stacey Lei from the United States captured the power of education in her piece, “The Reef We Read,” emphasizing how awareness can drive positive change for coral reefs. Middle school first-place winner Anish Aradhey’s “Coral Reef Superhero” highlighted the impact of small, everyday actions, portraying a young girl cleaning up beach litter to protect marine life. Their artwork, along with other winning pieces, demonstrated not just artistic skill but a deep understanding of coral reef conservation.
By participating in the challenge, students learned how human activities affect coral reefs and discovered ways individuals can make a difference. The contest encouraged them to explore environmental issues creatively, fostering both artistic expression and a passion for marine conservation. Through their art, these young ocean advocates are inspiring a global audience to take action for coral reefs.
Winners & Finalists Ages 11-14:
Second Place: "Holding the Key to Coral Rebirth" by Maree Sialepis, Age 14, Australia
‘Holding The Key to Coral Rebirth’ is an artwork that intends to create global awareness of the significance of scientific intervention and its capability to conserve and rebirth coral reefs. The composition’s background depicts dull, lifeless monochromatic reefs captured in the sea bubbles and choked by chains. The varying tones of lead pencil create an exaggerated, colourless depiction of the possible fate of the coral reefs without intervention. In the foreground, the power of scientific intervention is indicated through the subject of the scientist. The scientist’s facial expression and eye contact with the test tube allows the audience to identify the scientist’s amazement and success in unlocking the future of coral reefs through laboratory growth and nursing. The depiction of a marine biologist reaching for a key signifies the power, success and solutions scientists are working towards achieving in order to take action to conserve coral reefs worldwide.
Winners & Finalists Ages 15-19:
First Place: “The Reef We Read” by Stacey Lei, Age 16, United States
Corals reefs are dying because of negative human activities. The lack of awareness surrounding the reefs have contributed to its destruction. Education paves our future. When awareness is spread, the ocean is bright and full of life. The plants and other organisms above the book live in a healthy ecosystem, free of negative human interventions. However, when the awareness of our environment ceases, pollutants begin to destroy the coral reef. This is illustrated underneath the book where the ocean is lifeless, corals are bleached, and fish are entangled in human waste. Pollution is steadily creeping into marine life and joining the jellyfish. The book will close and coral reefs will only exist in history books if the pollution is not stopped. We must take immediate action by spreading coral reef awareness and stop the cycle of waste before it is too late.
