Students from Cambodia and the UK have come together in an inspiring international collaboration, showcased through Cambodian Children’s Fund’s (CCF) annual STEM In My Life photography exhibition.
This year’s exhibition brings together 20 powerful images exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in everyday life — 10 photographs from CCF students at the Neeson Cripps Academy in Phnom Penh and 10 photographs from schoolchildren in Nottingham.
The collaboration marks the first time the competition has extended beyond Cambodia, creating a cross-cultural exchange that connects young people from very different backgrounds through creativity, curiosity, and innovation.
The photographs were first exhibited at a recent science fair in Nottingham, where they were viewed by students, educators, and members of the local community. The full collection then went on public display at Wild restaurant in Phnom Penh, offering Cambodian audiences the opportunity to see how students in both countries interpret STEM in their daily lives.
The exhibition is sponsored by Laudert Cambodia, a media specialist based in Phnom Penh.
For CCF students, many of whom come from some of Cambodia’s most disadvantaged communities, STEM education represents opportunity, transformation, and hope for the future. Through this competition, students are encouraged to explore how science and technology shape their world, while developing skills in storytelling, critical thinking, and creative expression.
Sophea, 16, a Grade 10 student, submitted a striking photograph titled Aurora Light, captured during a science experiment at CCF’s Neeson Cripps Academy. The flickering flame, glowing in vivid shades of green and blue, reminded him of the Aurora Borealis, nature’s breathtaking light display that dances across the night skies of the northern hemisphere.
“When I was young, I saw images of green skies shown on television and in magazines, which gave me a dream of seeing them in person. Later, when I studied in the laboratory and carried out experiments with chemical substances, it reminded me of that dream. One day, I hope I can make my dream happen,” says Sophea.
We use plastic a lot, and I wanted to show how that affects us and the world around us.
Sovannry’s thought-provoking image, Plastic, captures a fellow CCF student, Virat, standing by the old garbage dump in Steung Meanchey. Surrounded by rotting waste, he is depicted with a plastic bag over his head, an arresting visual that confronts the harsh realities of pollution and its human impact.
“Plastic provides many benefits and makes daily life more convenient, but it also has negative impacts that affect the environment, human health, and many animals,” shares Sovannry, who at 13 is the youngest CCF student chosen to exhibit a photo.
“We use plastic a lot, and I wanted to show how that affects us and the world around us.”
I never imagined that this competition would extend outside CCF, especially to an international audience
Students from Nottingham’s participating secondary schools also embraced the challenge, capturing images that reflect innovation, experimentation, and the role of STEM in modern British life, including virtual technology and heat sources.
The STEM In My Life competition is designed to show that STEM is not confined to laboratories or textbooks. It exists in kitchens and classrooms, on construction sites and computer screens, in nature, industry, and imagination. By combining art and science, the exhibition demonstrates how young people across continents see the world — and how education connects them.
Phorn La, Education Project Officer at CCF, who oversees the technology and digital art projects, stated: “I never imagined that this competition would extend outside CCF, especially to an international audience, allowing our students and now students in Nottingham to express themselves through pictures.”
Now in its fourth year, STEM In My Life continues to grow as a platform for youth voice, global partnership, and educational opportunity. The 2026 exhibition highlights not only the talent of the participating students but also the shared aspirations of young people everywhere: to learn, to create, and to build a better future.
