North Carolina Student to Represent U.S. in
International Stockholm Junior Water Prize Competition
Alexandria, Va. – Eileen Jang of Cary, N.C. was named the U.S.
winner of the 2009 Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) – the most prestigious
international competition for water-related research – during a ceremony this
weekend at the University of Anchorage in Anchorage, Alaska.
The student’s work, “Natural Organics Control Aggregation of
Mercury Sulfide Nanoparticles in Freshwater Systems”, introduced a novel aqueous
synthesis process for studying how HgS nanoparticles, the precursors to
methylmercury, persist in freshwater systems. Jang’s research deepened the
understanding of mercury, a substance that bioaccumulates in fish and is toxic
to humans, in its aqueous phase and furthered the emerging field of
nanogeoscience. Her project was selected from more than 40 state SJWP winners at
the national competition held in Anchorage from June 25-27th.
The student from the North Carolina School of Science and
Mathematics in Durham, N.C. received $3,000 (USD) 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, August
16-22, 2009. 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. In addition, Jang’s
school will receive a $1,000 grant toward enhancing water science education and
she will present her research to more than 20,000 water quality professionals at
WEFTEC®.09 - the Water Environment Federation's 82nd annual technical exhibition
and conference - this October in Orlando, Fla.
Three U.S. finalists,
Scott Boisvert from Chandler, Ariz., Li Boynton from Houston, Texas, 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 Corporation and Delta Air Lines. The Alaska Water Wastewater
Management Association served as the 2009 host of the national competition and
Jang received sponsorship from the North Carolina Water Environment Association.
For more information about SJWP and to download the winning abstracts,
please visit www.SJWP.org.
About WEF
Formed in 1928, the Water Environment
Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with
35,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing
water quality professionals around the world. WEF and its Member Associations
proudly work to achieve our mission of preserving and enhancing the global water
environment.
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