Eileen Jang of Cary, N.C. was named the U.S. winner of the 2009
Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP)—the most prestigious international
student competition for water-related research—during a ceremony this
past weekend at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. Jang’s project
was chosen from more than 40 winners of state-level SJWP competitions.
The Water Environment Federation administers the U.S. competition with
support from ITT Corporation and other major corporations. ITT is also
the SJWP’s international sponsor.
The student's work, “Natural Organics Control Aggregation of Mercury
Sulfide Nanoparticles in Freshwater Systems” introduced a novel process
for studying how precursors to methylmercury persist in freshwater
systems. Jang’s research deepened the understanding of mercury—a
substance that builds up in fish and is toxic to humans—and furthered
the emerging field of nanogeoscience.
“Each year, the Stockholm Junior Water Prize challenges students around
the world to formulate remarkable research on a wide-spectrum of water
issues,” said Angela Buonocore, senior vice president and chief
communications officer for ITT. “With crucial water issues threatening
numerous regions around the world today, it is of the utmost importance
to support students like Eileen to help solve these issues through
research.”
Jang, who attends North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in
Durham, N.C., 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, August
16-22, 2009.
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 experts 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 from Melbourne Beach, Fla., each
received a $1,000 award.
This year marks the 13th consecutive year that ITT has sponsored the
international SJWP competition.
