CWEA Searches for California's Best High School Water Research Project
Source California Water Environment Assn.
The California Water Environment Assn. (CWEA) is opening the application process for the Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP), an annual water research competition for high school students.
The Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition is the world’s most prestigious water-science competition for students. The winner of the California competition will advance to the national level, and the winner of that event will represent America at the global competition in Sweden.
Previous winners of the California SJWP have developed systems which detect pathogens; analyze the formation of trihalomethanes; remove nanoparticles from water and screen for toxic chemicals. The purpose of the SJWP program is to increase students’ interest in water-related issues and research and to raise awareness about global water challenges.
The 2015 winner of the California prize is Michele Eggleston from Mt. Everest Academy in San Diego with her research project “Is It Clear? Is it Clean? Correlating Turbidity and Bacterial Contamination Using a Home Made Nephelometer.” Her science teacher is Trudy Pachon. The 2015 winner of the global SJWP is American Perry Alagappan from Houston.
The winner of the 2016 California SJWP prize will receive:
- A complimentary trip to the national competition at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, N.C., June 17 to 19, 2016. CWEA and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) will cover the cost of airfare, hotel and meals for the student.
- $250 cash prize;
- California SJWP medal and one-year WEF student membership;
- A certificate recognizing the student’s contribution to the water environment;
- An invitation to speak at CWEA’s Annual Conference the following year;
- Winning paper published in CWEA’s Wastewater Professional magazine; and
- Complimentary CWEA student membership for one year.
The criteria for SJWP entries are:
- Water-science research project aimed at enhancing the quality of life at the local, regional or global level;
- Open to all high school students, grades 9 to 12 and ages 15-20 (must reach age 15 by August 1, 2016)
- Projects may be done individually or by a team of up to three students
- The competition is open to public high schools, private schools, homeschools and independent projects not associated with a school
Applications are due by April 15, 2016. There is no fee at any stage of the SJWP, the program is supported by CWEA and the WEF.
It is essential that all projects use a research-oriented approach, which means they must use scientifically accepted methodologies for experimentation, monitoring and reporting, including statistical analysis.
The competition is judged by members of CWEA’s Membership & External Relations Committee with assistance from a distinguished panel of water experts.
Source: California Water Environment Assn.
