Jia Kim, a 12-year-old Korean American student at Rise Kohyang Middle School in Koreatown, Los Angeles, has won first place in the Science Without Borders Challenge, an international art competition featuring more than 1,300 entries from 75 countries.
The 2025 contest, organized by the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, focused on the theme “Marine Keystone Species” for participants aged 11 to 14. Jia Kim’s winning artwork highlighted krill, a tiny but critical species in marine ecosystems, as the centerpiece. Her interpretation of the theme drew attention from the judges for its originality and depth.
Her painting conveyed a strong message about the interconnectedness of marine life and the threat posed by global warming to ocean biodiversity. “Even small actions can lead to big changes when it comes to protecting our planet,” said Jia Kim. “I’m happy my art can raise awareness about environmental protection.”
Maggie Kwon, a coordinator at Rise Kohyang School, said, “She delivered a persuasive message about the importance of marine keystone species through a creative approach. We’re proud to see our student win on a global stage.”
Rachel Shin, an instructor at Hong Art Studio who mentored Kim, added, “Jia chose a rare and meaningful subject and explored it in depth. She prepared carefully, from research to sketches to color composition.”
The Science Without Borders Challenge has been held annually since 2014, encouraging youth aged 11 to 19 to promote ocean conservation through art.
BY YEONGCHAE SONG [song.yeongchae@koreadaily.com]
