Plastic-Free Seas, The Sea Monkey Project, Sydney Steenland

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Fifteen-year-old Sydney Steenland founded The Sea Monkey Project, a family of four living and learning aboard a 41-foot yacht. The family recycles ocean plastic waste and upcycles sails and fishing nets into marketable products, reducing marine waste through their innovative efforts. Sydney also engages with locals in Malaysia to promote recycling.

Anti-aging Expert Dr. Laurena Law, Hong Kong

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Dr. Laurena Law, born in Myanmar, is of Burmese Chinese and Japanese descent. Dr. Law is an Advanced Fellow in Anti-aging, Metabolic, and Functional Medicine, certified by the American Association of Anti-Aging Medicine. She specializes in medical aesthetics, focusing on skin aging and chronic illness prevention, and has also represented Hong Kong in Muay Thai and Powerlifting Championships.

Oceanographer Helen Phillips Investigates Antarctic Circumpolar Current and Climate Change

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Oceanographer Dr. Helen Phillips from Tasmania studies the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which separates warm subtropical waters from cold Antarctic waters. She focuses on how heat moves across this current, examining eddies and its meandering to understand climate change. Phillips warns that climate change will drastically alter the world for future generations unless immediate action is taken.

Lost Boy Rhythm and Blues Artist, Rawiri James

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Rawiri James is a storyteller and an artist in the Rhythm and Blues / Hip Hop genre. His young adult novel falls within the horror/thriller category. He believes that sharing personal stories holds immense value, and his own is titled Lost Boy. As a recovering addict, he took proactive steps to become useful, hopeful, and supportive. His journey through addiction was marked by a delusion that obscured the concept of infinity. Of Māori descent from the Tūhoe tribe, his Tā Moko (tattoo) symbolizes his struggles and path to rebirth.