Rebecca Ye of Bangor, Maine, was named the U.S. winner of the 2010 Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP)—an international competition for water-related research--during a ceremony this weekend at the Sheraton City Center in St. Louis, Mo.
The student’s work, “Nanoparticle-amplified immunosensor enables excellent sensitivity in rapid detection of viable E. coli O157:H7,” combines the sciences of microbiology and nanotechnology to create a biosensor capable of rapid identification of strains of pathogenic bacteria E. Coli. The proposed technique represents an advance in providing rapid and specific identification of the pathogenic bacteria so that corrective measures can be quickly and reliably implemented. Ye’s project was selected from more than 40 state SJWP winners at the national competition held in St. Louis.
“The SJWP competition reinforces my belief that the future of America's water environment is in good hands,” said Mohamed F. Dahab, chair of the SJWP Review Committee. “The 2010 competition was intense, and the level of research and creativity presented by the young men and women that participated this year was simply exquisite.”
Ye received $3,000 and an all-expense paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden, where she will compete against national winners from more than 30 countries for the international honor during World Water Week, Sept. 5 to 11, 2010. HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden will present the international award--$5,000 and crystal sculpture--during a royal ceremony held in conjunction with the Stockholm Water Symposium.
Ye’s school, the Bangor High School, will receive a $1,000 grant toward enhancing water science education and she will have the opportunity to present her research to thousands of water quality professionals at WEFTEC 2010--the Water Environment Federation's 83rd annual technical exhibition and conference--this October in New Orleans.
Three U.S. finalists, Akshar Wunnava from Chantilly, Va., April Choi from Glen Rock, N.J., and Collin McAliley of Melbourne Beach, Fla., also received a $1,000 award.
The Water Environment Federation sponsors the U.S. SJWP with support from ITT Corp. (also the international sponsor), The Coca-Cola Co. and Delta Air Lines. The Missouri Water Environment Assn. hosted the 2010 national competition and Ye received sponsorship from the New England Water Environment Assn.
Source: Water Environment Federation
