OceanX Education Impact Challenge

The OceanX Education Impact Challenge is a global open call inviting creators, scientists, educators, technologists, artists, and storytellers to develop innovative immersive learning experiences inspired by ocean science, exploration, and discovery. Participants will propose concepts that help people experience and understand the ocean in new ways through interactive, emotional, and educational storytelling.

OceanX Education advances ocean literacy by using global scientific expeditions, immersive media, museum collaborations, and hands-on learning to make the ocean personal, emotional, and interconnected. Through initiatives like the OceanX Education Impact Challenge, the organization trains and empowers the next generation of ocean creators and leaders to shape the future of ocean learning. Ultimately, this support helps expand OceanX's reach to more learners worldwide, driving deep engagement to inspire protection of our living oceans.

The Challenge operates as a rolling global programme, with release new scientific tracks for applications approximately twice a year. Each application cycle from application to winner will last approximately 3-4 months. Most collaboration and development takes place remotely, with selected in-person opportunities connected to showcases, immersive labs, and future onboard OceanXplorer development.

All applications will be submitted and reviewed virtually. If you are advanced as a finalist, finalists will receive resources and next steps virtually. Selected winners may have opportunities to participate in in-person showcases, immersive labs, or future OceanXplorer experiences.

The Challenge is open to applicants worldwide. We encourage applications from students, early-career professionals, emerging creators, scientists and researchers, educators and learning designers, digital artists, storytellers and filmmakers, creative technologists, and interdisciplinary teams. You do not need prior experience in ocean science to apply.

No. We welcome applicants from a wide range of disciplines. Strong applications demonstrate curiosity, creativity, and a desire to help audiences better understand and connect with the ocean. Scientific integrity is part of the evaluation process so we recommend demonstrating research if you do not have a formal ocean science background.

You must be 18 years old to apply. The Challenge is designed primarily for university students, recent graduates and early-career professionals with five or fewer years of experience. Our goal is to support your talent development through this program.

Yes. The Challenge is a global program and welcomes applicants from around the world.

We are seeking immersive educational experiences that translate ocean science into meaningful audience experiences that help advance ocean literacy. Examples include interactive exhibits, games and simulations, projection-mapped environments, immersive installations, participatory experiences, data-driven visualizations, spatial storytelling experiences, and mixed-reality and virtual experiences. We encourage bold and creative interpretations of the Challenge tracks.

Most people will never directly experience the deep ocean. Immersive media can transform scientific knowledge into emotional, memorable experiences that help audiences see, feel, and understand the ocean in ways that traditional educational formats often cannot.

Applicants choose one track as the inspiration for their proposal. The inaugural Challenge features four science-inspired tracks. 1) Living Light: The Language of Bioluminescence, 2) The Invisible Ocean: Microbial Worlds That Run the Planet, 3) Extreme Oceans: Life at the Edge, and 4) Deep Sea Detectives: Finding Life in the Unknown.

When you apply, you keep ownership of the application materials you submit. This means you are free to continue developing your idea, use it in other projects, or pursue it outside of the Challenge. However, by applying, you give OceanX permission to use, share, edit, and publish your application to review it, promote the Challenge, highlight participants, and support OceanX's mission. OceanX does not have to pay you to use these materials.

If your team becomes a Finalist or Winner, any new work you create during those stages of the Challenge belongs to OceanX. This includes things like content, designs, prototypes, software, code, and other project materials. You will be asked to transfer ownership of this new work to OceanX if you are chosen as a Finalist or a Winner.

Each interested team of 2–5 people are required to nominate a Team Lead to make a submission on the Application Form above for the Education Impact Challenge. The application requires each team to submit information about members, selected track, concept/project statement (≤ 200 characters), link to pitch video (≤ 2 minutes), concept deck (maximum 10 slides), and optional links to portfolio, CV, or work samples.

No. At the application stage, we are looking for compelling ideas and strong creative potential. Applicants do not need to build a working prototype before applying.

No, in the spirit of encourage interdisciplinary teamwork and collabration, this Challenge is open to teams of 2–5 people.

All applicants become a part of the OceanX Changemakers Community and gain access to select resources for the Community to support ocean and creative technology careers.

There is no cost to apply. Selected participants may also receive support for eligible program activities, including certain future in-person opportunities.

AppApplications are evaluated based on the detailed rubrics and weighting outlined in our Judging Criteria section.

Please refer directly to the Judging Criteria on this page for a complete breakdown of the evaluation metrics.

Strong applications typically demonstrate a compelling educational opportunity, creative use of immersive media or storytelling, clear audience impact, alignment with ocean science, original thinking, and a realistic path toward prototyping and implementation.

Finalists and Winners receive feedback on their concept from our network of experts, along with the opportunity to have their work showcased more widely. All Finalists will receive mentorship from the OceanX network. If you and your team are selected as a finalist, you will have a set timeline to update your concept into a working prototype with OceanX resources, data and mentorship.

Winning teams will have the opportunity to further refine and develop their projects aboard the R/V OceanXplorer. Winning teams’ concepts will have the opportunity to be shown on a global stage and/or world-class installation curated with OceanX.

Selected winners may be invited to participate in a future onboard experience aboard the R/V OceanXplorer. Participation is not guaranteed and will depend on project needs, program timing, and available opportunities.

Applications are reviewed on flexible basis throughout the year.

Interested applicants can follow OceanX social media announcements and sign up for newsletter updates to receive information about application deadlines, future Challenge tracks, events, and opportunities.

Application deadlines, review timelines, and program milestones will be announced through the official Challenge website.

Interested applicants can follow OceanX social media announcements and sign up for newsletter updates to receive information about application deadlines, future Challenge tracks, events, and opportunities.