Entries are open for the Science Without Borders® Challenge 2027 - the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation’s free international student art contest that teaches ocean science and conservation through creativity. Now in its 15th year, the Challenge invites primary and secondary students worldwide to create original hand-made artwork on an annual ocean theme.
The 2027 theme is “Navigate with Care” (sponsored with the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation / IFAN). Students ages 11 - 19 explore how safer, more responsible navigation protects people, marine life, and ocean ecosystems. Deadline: 1 March 2027, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
This Opportunity Station guide is original copy based on official Living Oceans Foundation pages. It is not a reprint of any third-party blog.
Quick Facts - Science Without Borders® Challenge 2027
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | Science Without Borders® Challenge 2027 |
| Organiser | Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation |
| Theme | Navigate with Care |
| Who can enter | Students ages 11 - 19 in primary/secondary school (or home school); worldwide |
| Age groups | 11 - 14 and 15 - 19 |
| Entry fee | Free |
| Artwork | Original hand-created 2D art only (no AI, no digital creation, no photos as artwork) |
| Scholarships | 1st $500, 2nd $350, 3rd $200 per age group + $50 People’s Choice per age group |
| Deadline | 1 March 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET (no extensions) |
| Official page | livingoceansfoundation.org - SWB Challenge |
| Submit | Online submission form |
2027 Theme - Navigate with Care
Create artwork that shows how mariners and people on the water can protect both people and ocean life by navigating safely and responsibly. Your piece should illustrate how decisions on the water can protect marine wildlife, conserve fragile ecosystems, and promote safety at sea - helping people and nature coexist while safeguarding the ocean for future generations.
Prizes
- First place: $500 scholarship (each age group)
- Second place: $350 scholarship (each age group)
- Third place: $200 scholarship (each age group)
- People’s Choice: $50 scholarship (each age group)
- All eligible participants receive a digital certificate (theme alignment required)
Eligibility
- Ages 11 - 19 enrolled in primary or secondary school (or home-school equivalent) anywhere in the world
- Students age 10 may enter if they turn 11 by 1 March 2027
- College/university students are not eligible
- One original artwork per participant; individual entries only (no groups)
- Must have a teacher sponsor (parent/guardian cannot sponsor unless they are the homeschool teacher)
- Parent/guardian and teacher contacts required (even if 18+); COPPA consent required for ages 11 - 12
Artwork Rules (Highlights)
- Hand-created 2D work only: paint, pencil, marker, crayon, ink, felt, oil pastel
- No AI-generated or AI-enhanced artwork; no digitally created art; photos are not accepted as the artwork itself
- Must be original - no plagiarism, cartoon/movie characters, or re-entering prior contest work
- Online submission only (no email entries)
- NEW for 2027: upload two progress photos of you creating the artwork (face + art clearly visible at early and later stages) plus one high-quality final artwork image. Progress photos verify originality and are not judged or published
Read the full contest rules and artwork submission guidelines before uploading.
How to Apply
- Study the Navigate with Care theme and plan original hand-made 2D artwork.
- Ask a teacher to sponsor your entry and gather parent/guardian + teacher contact details.
- Photograph yourself creating the piece at two stages, then scan/photograph the finished artwork (high quality).
- Complete the online submission form, upload all required images, and write a clear theme description.
- Submit before 1 March 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET. Semi-finalists must later mail the original artwork (not returned).
Official Links
Submit artwork - Science Without Borders® Challenge 2027
Challenge homepage - Living Oceans Foundation
Guidelines for submitting artwork
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- Youth for Sustainable Policy (YSP) Global Policy Brief Competition 2026
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FAQs - Science Without Borders® Challenge 2027
When is the deadline?
1 March 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Late entries are disqualified; no extensions.
Is there an entry fee?
No. The contest is free to enter.
Can I use AI or digital tools to make the art?
No. Artwork must be created by hand. AI-generated/enhanced and digitally created artwork are not allowed. Progress photos help verify originality.
Who can enter?
Primary/secondary (or homeschooled) students ages 11 - 19 worldwide. University students cannot enter.
What is the theme?
Navigate with Care - responsible navigation that protects people and ocean life.
