Enter for the Science Without Borders Challenge 2025 for Primary/Secondary School Students

Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation’s Science without Borders Challenge is an international art competition that engages students to promote the need to preserve, protect, and restore the world’s oceans and aquatic resources.

Application Deadline: 3rd March 2025 by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time).

Offered annually? Yes

Eligible Countries: All

To be taken at (country): Online

About the Award: The theme for the 2025 Science without Borders® Challenge is “Marine Keystone Species.” Keystone species play a crucial role in keeping ocean ecosystems healthy and balanced. To apply for this year’s contest, students should submit artwork featuring a keystone species that lives in the ocean, highlighting this creature’s vital role in its marine ecosystem.

The Science Without Borders® Challenge is an international contest that engages students and teachers in ocean conservation through art. This annual competition inspires students to be creative while promoting public awareness of the need to preserve, protect, and restore the world’s oceans and aquatic resources, contributing to the overarching goals of the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. The Challenge is open to primary and secondary school students 11-19 years old, with scholarships of up to $500 awarded to the winning entries.

The Science without Borders Challenge was created to get students and teachers interested in ocean conservation through various forms of art. This annual contest inspires students to be creative while learning about important ocean conservation issues.

Offered Since: 2013

Type: Contest

Eligibility: The Science Without Borders Challenge is open to primary and secondary school students 11-19 years old.  Students must be enrolled in primary or secondary school, or the home school equivalent. College and university students are not eligible for this contest.

Work will be judged in two categories, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes awarded for each:

• 11 – 14 year-olds
• 15 – 19 year-olds

We encourage teacher submissions! Be sure each entry has the name of the artist and their age written in pencil on the back of it. If your student(s) are under the age of 13, make sure the COPPA form is completely filled out for each one. The artwork can be shipped in one package.

Selection Criteria: A panel of artists, educators, and scientists judge the Science Without Borders® Challenge. Artwork will be evaluated on the quality of the artwork, originality, and adherence to the theme. The judges will use a Grading Rubric to evaluate the artwork.

When creating your artwork, you should think about these questions:

• Does your artwork reflect that you understand the theme of the contest?
• Does your artist’s statement also show that you understand the contest theme?
• Does your piece show that you have a good understanding of art and that you use these art elements, such as line, shape, form, value, composition, and color, to effectively portray the theme?
• Is your artwork original, inventive, and shows off your individual style?
• Is your artwork neat? Are there tears, smudges, and/or smear marks?
• Does your artwork invoke emotion for your viewers? Is it striking and memorable?

For tips on creating winning artwork, see Tips for Success.

Selection Process: A panel of artists, educators, and scientists will be formed to judge the Science Without Borders® Challenge. Artwork will be evaluated on the quality of the artwork, originality, and adherence to the theme.

Number of Awardees: Not specified

Value of Contest: Winners of the Science Without Borders® Challenge will be publicly announced. Prizes awarded to contestant winners are as follows:

• 1st Place: $500
• 2nd Place: $350
• 3rd Place: $200

We also offer a “People’s Choice” award, where the winners in each age group will receive a $50 scholarship. 

How to Apply: To apply to the 2025 Science Without Borders Challenge, fill out the online entry form, upload a picture of your artwork, and make sure everything is submitted before the deadline! If you are under the age of 13, your parents will be asked to provide consent, so make sure not to wait until the last minute. Before applying, check out our Tips for Success for suggestions on how to make the most of your application, such as how to write a compelling artist’s statement that describes how your artwork relates to this year’s theme.  

Apply Now

Contest Rules

Before beginning your artwork, make sure to review the Contest Rules for more information on the types of art we are looking for. For example, the Science Without Borders® Challengeonly accepts original 2-dimensional pieces of artwork students have created by hand, such as a painting or a drawing. 

See the Guidelines for Submitting Artwork for tips on how to upload your artwork. Although the application process is online, semi-finalists will be required to mail in the original artwork in order to be eligible to win.