Naomi Park from USA wins Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2023
August 22 2023 - 2:14PM
Business Wire
Naomi Park from USA receives the prestigious Stockholm Junior
Water Prize 2023 for her research on the removal of carbon dioxide
and oil products from the ocean. HRH Crown Princess Victoria of
Sweden presented the winner with her award during a ceremony at
World Water Week in Stockholm.
The ocean absorbs nearly a third of airborne carbon dioxide
emissions, and 1.3 million gallons of crude oil are spilled into
oceans every year. Both issues continue to detrimentally affect
marine biodiversity, and human health. In her research, Naomi Park
has developed a method to simultaneously remove these
contaminants.
For this, she was announced the winner of Stockholm Junior Water
Prize, an international competition where students between the ages
of 15 and 20 present solutions to major water challenges.
Speaking on winning the prize, Park said: “I did this project in
my high school. I joined our research program as a freshman. It is
just something that I wanted to do for fun. I never realized that I
would get to this point. It is very much a shock right now.”
The Jury noted that “the winner is taking a troublesome waste
product and using it to help solve a number of the most pressing
issues we face in the modern world. By using Styrofoam and creating
a ‘sponge’ that absorbs both carbon dioxide and oil products from
the ocean, this student built a model and tested it – in multiple
conditions, even simulating ocean waves – with impressive
results.”
The winner was presented with her prize during an award ceremony
at World Water Week by HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, the
Prize’s Official Patron.
The Diploma of Excellence was awarded to Ayse Pelin Dedeler from
Türkiye for her study on how to capture microplastics with magnetic
nano-adsorbents and remove them from the water using strong
magnets.
The People’s Choice Award went to Fernando de Silva Hernández
and Carlos Erquizio from Mexico, completing the line-up of
winners.
The Stockholm Junior Water Prize has been organized every year
since 1997 by the Stockholm International Water Institute, SIWI,
with Xylem as Founding Partner.
“The Stockholm Junior Water Prize is a tribute to an entire
generation of motivated young people, eager to tackle the greatest
challenges of our time. Their passion, ingenuity, and determination
to be part of a better future is truly inspiring. It is also a
stark reminder that we must all do our part, and we must do it
now,” said Karin Gardes, Acting Executive Director of Stockholm
International Water Institute.
Patrick Decker, Xylem’s President and CEO, added: “The next
generation of water innovators is already making a difference today
– as all the Stockholm Junior Water Prize participants show. I join
22,000 Xylem colleagues and our many partners around the world in
honoring their big ideas and bold ambitions. We’re inspired by
what’s to come and welcome them to the global movement to solve
water.”
For more information: www.siwi.org/prizes.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230822895510/en/
Jakob Schabus Communications Manager Stockholm International
Water Institute Email: jakob.schabus@siwi.org Mobile: +46 (0) 720
50 60 39
Xylem (NYSE:XYL)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Xylem (NYSE:XYL)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024