A Calgary youth’s charcoal art piece about microscopic marine life has received a top honour at an international competition. Olivia Shin placed first among artists between 11 and 14 years old in the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation’s 2026 Science Without Borders Challenge. The 14-year-old took charcoal to recycled cardboard to create her piece, titled The Giant and the Invisible: A Story of Ocean Recycling. According to the foundation, she depicted the “decomposition of a blue whale carcass by microscopic marine organisms. Her art highlights the microscopic marine organisms’ role in “recycling nutrients and sustaining deep-sea ecosystems for decades after a whale fall reaches the ocean floor.” “I was inspired by how bacteria clump together and work with microorganisms, which to me resembled the game of Tetris," Shin said. “I hope that my artwork can encourage others’ thoughts and interest in marine life.” Winners receive $500 scholarships from the foundation. The money is meant “to celebrate their achievements and help them pursue their interests in art and ocean conservation.” This year’s Science Without Borders Challenge had the theme of Microscopic Marine Life and drew in the art of “nearly 900 students from 65 countries.” Foundation COO and director of education Amy Heemsoth said this year’s theme “challenged students to explore a world that is rarely seen but absolutely essential to life on Earth.” Submissions were made through painting, drawing and mixing media. “The winning entries reveal a remarkable blend of artistic talent and scientific understanding,” the foundation said. “From phytoplankton drifting beneath sunlit waves to microscopic organisms fuelling deep-sea ecosystems around hydrothermal vents, students explored the extraordinary impact of life too small to see with the naked eye.” The Science Without Borders Challenge is in its 14th year.
