Nine Countries, One Challenge: Brilliant Blue Returns to BIO This October
Ten teams from nine countries are heading to the Bedford Institute of Oceanography this October 16 and 17, in person and online, to turn bold ideas into real solutions for a healthier ocean.
This fall, the Bedford Institute of Oceanography welcomes youth innovators from nine countries, joining in person and virtually around one shared question: how do we protect the ocean we all depend on? For the second year running, the Global Brilliant Blue Challenge brings together student teams from Canada, Chile, Finland, Scotland, Brazil, Ghana, Egypt, Japan, USA, and Tunisia for two days of turning bold ideas into real solutions for marine renewable energy, autonomous ocean systems, and healthier marine life.
These aren't students reciting facts about the ocean. They're building it a better future, one prototype at a time.
"From a few local classrooms to a global stage, watching this community scale has been nothing short of breathtaking. These students aren’t waiting for permission to protect our waters; they are engineering the blue economy's breakthroughs themselves."
— Omar Hussein, Director, Brilliant Blue Challenge
October 16 kicks things off with virtual presentations from teams joining remotely, alongside a BIO tour for delegations on site, a chance to walk the same halls where Canada's ocean science happens every day. October 17 brings everyone together, in person and online, for final presentations, judging, and the moment this is all building toward: naming this year's winners.
Brilliant Blue is proudly presented by Brilliant Labs and made possible by the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, whose belief in youth-led innovation has helped this challenge grow from a regional pilot into a genuinely global stage.
A heartfelt thank you to the Department for investing directly in the kind of hands-on, real-world learning that prepares Nova Scotia students for the future of the Blue Economy. Seeing young innovators from around the world come together through this challenge is a win we're proud to share with them.
The competition carries the endorsement of the UN Ocean Decade, and is hosted this year, as it was last, by the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, with vital support from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Cooke Aquaculture.
One familiar face returning to the judges' table deserves a special mention. Dr. Kent Smedbol of Fisheries and Oceans Canada has been part of Brilliant Blue since its very first competition, first as a judge and now as Judges Advisor, guiding the next cohort of evaluators. His presence, year after year, is part of what's made this challenge something young innovators and their mentors keep coming back to.
"I've had the privilege of judging this competition since its very first year, and every year I'm struck by how much further these students push the science. Leading this year's judging team feels like watching the next generation of ocean scientists take their first real steps."
— Dr. Kent Smedbol, Manager, Ecosystem Science Directorate, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), UN Ocean Decade Champion and Judges Advisor
For some, Brilliant Blue isn't just something they support, it's something they've lived.
DRAFT QUOTE — Mayar to confirm wording
"I was a Grade 11 student when I competed in the very first Brilliant Blue Challenge, and it completely changed how I saw my own role in creating solutions. Now, as competition coordinator, I get to watch that same spark happen for a whole new generation of innovators, this time from nine countries instead of just a few classrooms."
— Mayar Ibrabah, Brilliant Blue Alumna and Competition Coordinator
Ten teams are confirmed across in-person and virtual delegations so far, with final numbers coming together in the weeks ahead. What's already certain is this: nine coastlines, nine sets of challenges, and one incredible group of young people determined to prove that the future of ocean innovation doesn't belong to any one country. It belongs to all of us.
Mark your calendars for October 16 and 17, and stay tuned for team spotlights and behind-the-scenes coverage as the countdown begins.
Learn more at brilliantblue.org.
About Brilliant Labs
Brilliant Labs is an Atlantic Canadian charity that has been helping young people build creativity, innovation and digital skills since 2014. Through hands-on, project-based learning, Brilliant Labs works with students, educators and community leaders in all four Atlantic provinces and beyond. Its programs include Innovation Fairs, coding and robotics challenges, summer camps, and global initiatives like the UN Ocean Decade-endorsed Brilliant Blue Challenge. Guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Brilliant Labs helps youth grow a socially responsible, entrepreneurial mindset so they can design real solutions for their communities and the world.
Learn more at brilliantlabs.ca.
