WEF Member Associations Send Young Water Scientists to U.S. SJWP Competition

A student describes his water-science project at the 2014 U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) competition. Photo courtesy of AOB Photo.

Some of the most promising, up-and-coming water scientists in the U.S. will gather at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport Hotel in Herndon, Va., June 19–20 for the 2015 U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) competition. Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Member Associations (MAs) have selected high school-age winners representing 48 states as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and will sponsor their participation in the U.S. competition.

A panel of water sector judges will choose a U.S. winner to receive $10,000 and a trip to Stockholm to represent the U.S. during an international SJWP competition, which will be held during World Water Week, Aug. 23–28, and present an international winner with $15,000. Also during the U.S. competition, the Bjorn von Euler Innovation in Water Scholarship Award, a $1000 scholarship sponsored by Xylem Inc. (White Plains, N.Y.), will be awarded to a competitor or team demonstrating passion for education, spirit of creativity, and innovation.

During the 2014 SJWP competition, students presented their projects aimed at improving water quality to judges and other attendees. Photo courtesy of AOB Photo.

WEF, with support from Xylem and local MAs, will host the 2015 U.S. SJWP competition. Judging will take place during an exhibition open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to noon on June 20. The competition, developed to increase students’ interest in water-related topics and research and raise awareness about global water challenges, is open to projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life by improving water quality, water resources management, water protection, and water and wastewater management.