The winning project will be announced at the end of August at the annual World Water Week in Stockholm and featured in the Journal of Water Research. The Reed Elsevier Environmental Challenge winner will receive a prize of $50,000 with a second place prize of $25,000.
The projects provide a range of accessible and affordable solutions including: hygienic sanitation stations; sand dams to collect rainwater; a sanitation technology competition; iron-reinforced biosand filters; and green energy-transported water. Projects were evaluated by a team of reviewers and a panel of distinguished judges to identify the most replicable, scalable, sustainable and innovative solutions with practical applicability and the ability to engage a range of stakeholders and local communities.
Shortlisted candidates will be given access to relevant Reed Elsevier publications such as the Journal of Water Research in order to help them refine their original proposals by mid July. The panel of judges is comprised of academic and industry leaders in the fields of water and sanitation resources: Dr. Sarah Bell, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Engineering, University College London; Dr. Prasad Modak, Executive President of the Environmental Management Centre in India; Professor Gang Pan, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Dr. Mark van Loosdrecht, Professor of Biochemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology.
The Reed Elsevier Environmental Challenge was launched in 2011 to contribute to the Water for Life Decade, established by the UN General Assembly between 2005 and 2015 to support the Millennium Development Goal to halve the number of people without access to safe drinking water and stop unsustainable exploitation of water resources. The World Health Organisation has indicated that one in three people does not have enough water to meet their daily needs. Poor access to safe water contributes to health crises in many developing countries, and increasingly leads to violent conflict.
Youngsuk (“YS”) Chi, Director, Corporate Affairs, Reed Elsevier, noted: “With the Reed Elsevier Environmental Challenge we hope to highlight the need for safe and sustainable water solutions for at risk communities. The 2012 shortlisted applications provide a promising mix of applied technologies, local engagement and a drive to make real contributions. We look forward to celebrating the winners at the World Water Week in Stockholm.”
