World Water Week, an annual meeting in Stockholm about the world’s most urgent water-related issues, took place this year between August 16-22. Organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), it brought together water experts, practitioners, decision makers, and global leaders in order to come up with solutions to international water crises.
It also recognized the achievements of innovators in the field of water conservation. Including those of two young women – Ceren Burçak Dag of Nisantasi, Turkey and Emily Elhacham of Israel.
Both young women were recognized as part of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, which is open to young scientists between the ages of 15-20. The prize is intended to encourage these scientists’ continued interest in water conservation and often draws thousands of international participants.
18 year old Ceren Burçak Dag won the overall Stockhold Junior Water Prize for developing an innovative method for generating energy through piezoelectric pulses from falling rain drops. As part of its explanation for granting her the prize, the Stockholm Junior Water Prize Jury noted that “many young people are concerned about climate change, but few will take action to identify a solution. Reducing CO2 emissions by developing alternative environment-friendly, renewable energy sources is a specific response to this global problem. This year’s winner had a spark of genius in developing a high tech solution that used PVDF, a smart material with piezoelectric properties, to transfer the kinetic energy of raindrops into electrical energy.”
The jury also awarded a Diploma of Excellence to Emily Elhacham for a project that detected water contamination chemical sensors using metal nanoparticle networks.
Read more about other environmental awards::
The UAE’s Zayed Future Energy Prize Awarded to Bangladesh Solar Power Developer
New Student Center at Beirut’s American University Wins Top Architectural Green Award
Our Friends From “Friends of the Earth Middle East” Get $750,000 From Skoll for Water Work
Author: Karen Chernick
Much to the disappointment of her Moroccan grandmother, Karen became a vegetarian at the age of seven because of a heartfelt respect for other forms of life. She also began her journey to understand her surroundings and her impact on the environment. She even starting an elementary school Ecology Club and an environmental newsletter in the 3rd grade. (The proceeds of the newsletter went to non-profit environmental organizations, of course.) She now studies in New York. Karen can be reached at karen (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
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