ALEXANDRIA, VA, June 29, 2009 -- 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 (also the international sponsor), The Coca-Cola Company, 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.
>> Click here for more information about SJWP and to download the winning abstracts
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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