The 2027 Science Without Borders® Challenge asks students to explore how responsible navigation can protect people, marine life, and ocean ecosystems.
The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is now accepting entries for the 2027 Science Without Borders® Challenge, an international student art contest that inspires young people to learn about ocean science and conservation through art. This year’s theme, Navigate with Care, invites students ages 11–19 from around the world to create original artwork to explore how safer, more responsible navigation can protect people, marine life, and ocean ecosystems.
The Navigate with Care theme grew out of a joint campaign by the same name, developed by the Living Oceans Foundation and the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) to promote safe and environmentally responsible navigation. IFAN is generously sponsoring the theme of this year’s Science Without Borders® Challenge, helping bring the campaign’s message to students and classrooms around the world.
“When IFAN first launched the Navigate with Care campaign with the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, our aim was to strengthen the connection between safe navigation and the protection of the marine environment. Bringing that message to young people through the Science Without Borders® Challenge is a natural next step, helping a new generation understand that responsible navigation can protect people, marine life, and the ocean ecosystems on which communities depend,” said Francesca Pradelli, IFAN’s Development Manager.
Students are encouraged to create artwork that illustrates some of the many ways mariners can make safer, more responsible decisions on the water that protect both people and marine life. Their artwork might show ships slowing down around whales, boaters using mooring buoys instead of anchoring on coral reefs, mariners following Aids to Navigation (AtoNs), or vessels navigating carefully to avoid collisions and groundings that could harm people and sensitive marine habitats.
“Through the Science Without Borders® Challenge, we want students to understand that protecting the ocean is connected to the choices people make every day,” said Amy Heemsoth, COO and Director of Education at the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. “Navigate with Care gives young artists an opportunity to explore the science behind responsible navigation and then use their creativity to show how people and marine life can safely share the ocean. We hope their artwork will inspire others to think differently about the impact we can have on the water.”
The competition is free to enter and open to primary and secondary school students ages 11–19 worldwide. Entries are judged in two age groups, 11–14 and 15–19, with first, second, and third place scholarships of $500, $350, and $200 awarded in each category. Two additional $50 People’s Choice awards allow the public to help celebrate their favorite artwork.
Entries must be submitted by March 1, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Students, teachers, and families can learn more about this year’s theme, review the contest rules and grading rubric, and submit artwork at lof.org/SWBChallenge.
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About the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN):
The International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing maritime safety, protecting marine ecosystems, and strengthening global navigation capabilities. IFAN ensures safer and more efficient shipping routes while minimizing environmental risks by supporting projects focused on enhancing Aids to Navigation (AtoNs) frameworks, developing technical expertise, and providing AtoN infrastructure. Through strategic partnerships, funding, and technical expertise, IFAN plays a pivotal role in securing safe, sustainable global waterways and safeguarding the world’s ocean for future generations. To learn more or inquire about funding opportunities, visit www.ifanmaritime.org.uk.
About the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF):
The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the health of the world’s oceans. Through science, outreach, and education, the Foundation works to conserve coral reefs and other tropical marine ecosystems, enhance ocean literacy, and inspire conservation action. As part of its commitment to Science Without Borders®, the Foundation provides educational resources and programs to empower people worldwide to protect our living oceans for future generations. Learn more at www.livingoceansfoundation.org.
About the UN Ocean Decade:
Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyze new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’. The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN General Assembly mandated UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade. Learn more at www.oceandecade.org
