We’re thrilled to announce that Henry Kim, a talented student from GAAC, has not only been selected as one of four semifinalists from Canada in the 2025 Science Without Borders® Challenge—but has also advanced to the final round, placing him among the top 10 finalists globally in the 11–14 age category!
A Global Competition That Uses Art to Protect the Ocean
The Science Without Borders® Challenge is an international art competition hosted by the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, open to students aged 11 to 19 worldwide. The annual contest inspires students to creatively raise awareness about the importance of ocean conservation, helping to protect, restore, and preserve our marine ecosystems.
Each year, the competition is themed around a different environmental topic. This year’s theme, “Hidden Wonders of the Deep”, focused on marine keystone species—those crucial organisms that play a vital role in maintaining the balance of the ocean’s ecosystems.
Henry’s Creative Vision: A Sea Turtle in the Spotlight
Henry chose to center his artwork around the sea turtle, a key marine species, offering a thoughtful and symbolic perspective on its importance:
His piece not only showcases artistic skill but also conveys a deep understanding of ecology, environmental awareness, and emotional insight, which resonated strongly with the judging panel.
Global Achievement, Local Pride
The 2025 Challenge received over 1,300 eligible submissions from students across 75 countries. In the 11–14 age group alone, there were nearly 700 entries. From these, only 29 advanced to the global semifinals, and just 4 were from Canada. Henry Kim not only represented Canada at the semifinal level—but also earned a place as one of the 10 global finalists, an extraordinary achievement!
GAAC's Ongoing Support: From Passion to Global Stage
At GAAC, we encourage students to participate in prestigious international competitions like the Science Without Borders® Challenge every year. With a robust mentorship system, structured competition training, and a supportive creative environment, we help students transform their ideas into impactful artwork—step by step, from interest to excellence.
We believe that art is not only a form of expression but also a bridge to global awareness and change. At GAAC, every piece of art deserves to be seen, and every dream has the potential to be realized.
Explore more about our competition programs on our website or reach out through our homepage to learn how to get involved.
Congratulations once again to Henry Kim!
May your creativity continue to shine, and may your art continue to inspire change—for our oceans and our world.