Rise Kohyang Student Wins 1st Place in Global Ocean Art Contest

Rise Kohyang Middle School student, Gia Kim, has been awarded 1st place (ages 11–14) in the 2025 Science Without Borders® Challenge!

Hosted by the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, this global art competition received over 1,300 entries from students across 75 countries. Gia's incredible artwork, “Melting Grounds,” rose to the top.

Her piece powerfully illustrates the impact of warming oceans on krill, a tiny but vital keystone species that sustains polar life from whales to penguins.

Gia’s powerful painting of krill—tiny but vital creatures that form the heart of the food web in the Arctic and Antarctic—illustrates how the loss of such species, due to threats like climate change and ocean acidification, could lead to ecological collapse.

"Melting Grounds" by Gia Kim

Gia was also featured in the Korea Times!

Hear from Gia on what winning the contest means to her, the inspiration for her artwork, and what she’s passionate about:

Congratulations! You won the Science Without Borders Challenge! What does winning this contest mean to you?

Gia Kim: It means a lot to receive the Science Without Borders Challenge award. It helped me feel a sense of accomplishment that increased my passion for art. Throughout my journey, my biggest supporters were my mother and the art teachers at Hong Art, who guided me along the way.

Tell me about your artwork. What is it, and what message are you hoping it will convey to others?

Gia: The reason I decided to include krill in my piece is because they provide a food source for many marine animals, such as whales, which is also why they are known as a marine keystone species. My artwork addresses deep ecological problems such as global warming and biomagnification. I hope this piece raises awareness about our damaged ocean and what could happen if we continue to harm it.

What did you learn by participating in the Science Without Borders® Challenge?

Gia: When I started participating in the Science Without Borders Challenge, I learned that krill play an important role in the ocean ecosystem by providing food that helps keep the food chain balanced. Without them, the cycle would break down. Through this experience, I not only learned more about the ocean environment, but also learned how to push my conceptual work and make it more focused on the topic.

Are there any environmental issues you’re particularly passionate about, and why? Has this experience changed how you see your role in protecting the ocean or the planet?

Gia: One of the environmental issues I’m passionate about is ocean acidification. This phenomenon, largely caused by climate change and pollution, is one of the many urgent challenges our world faces. It usually refers to changes in the ocean over time that cause it to heat up. This also creates problems in the marine food chain and affects the food supply we eat.

Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Gia: Another thing I’d like to add is that while working on this contest, I improved my conceptual ideas, painting skills, and the way I observed the water ecosystem. I believe this will show others that we can still protect the ecosystem. This is our planet, and we can make a change, starting with our warming ocean.

We’re so proud of Gia for using her artistic talent to inspire ocean conservation around the world. This achievement was made possible with the support of her after-school art program, Hong Art Studios, and a special thank you goes to her mentor and teacher, Rachel Shin, for guiding her every step of the way.

Congratulations, Gia! We hope your scholarship prize helps you continue exploring your passions for art and protecting our oceans.