Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene September - October 2016 Vol. 11 No.4 | Page 27

SIWI launches “Water Tank”, platform for
future water heroes

plants – especially in terms of the shape of plants that
collect and capture water – Sureeporn Triphetprapa,
Thidarat Phianchat and Kanjana Komkla built a device
that mimics the water retention of the Bromeliad plant.
The device has also been installed on rubber trees on
rubber plantations. For this, they have been awarded the
2016 Stockholm Junior Water Prize, showcasing that
nature is the best teacher.
The Jury was impressed by the winners, in particular their
exceptional creativity, unrelenting diligence, enthusiasm
and true passion for water.

To help celebrate the 20th jubilee of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize,
SIWI has launched an alumni and accelerator platform for finalists - the
Water Tank. The platform aims to help finalists turn projects into practice,
with support from advisors and organizations from the global water
community.

For 20 years, the Stockholm Junior Water Prize
competition has engaged thousands of young people
(age 15-20), who design water-related projects of
environmental, scientific, social or technological
significance. The international final is held in Stockholm
during World Water Week. Participating in the competition
has changed the paths of many of the finalists and
winners.

Thai students win 2016 Stockholm Junior
Water Prize for natural innovative water
retention device

Three students from Thailand, Sureeporn Triphetprapa, Thidarat
Phianchat and Kanjana Komkla, received the 2016 Stockholm
Junior Water Prize on Tuesday 30 August 2016 for their
innovative water retention device that mimics the water retention
of the Bromeliad plant. H.R.H. Prince Carl Philip of Sweden
presented the prize at an award ceremony during World Water
Week in Stockholm.

As the three received the prize, Kanjana Komkla said “I’m
really happy but I think every team is the best! And thank
you everyone.”
By examining the efficacy of natural water collection by

Joan Rose, water quality champion, receives
2016 Stockholm Water Prize

Professor Joan B. Rose received the 2016 Stockholm Water Prize
on Wednesday 31 August 2016 for her tireless contributions
to global public health; by assessing risks to human health in
water and creating guidelines and tools for decision-makers
and communities to improve global wellbeing. The prize was
presented to Joan Rose by H.M. Carl XVI Gustaf, King of
Sweden, during a ceremony in Stockholm City Hall during the
ongoing World Water Week.

In its citation, The Stockholm Water Prize Nominating
Committee said that “The nexus of water-related
microbiology, water quality and public health is rife with
uncertainty – in both theory and practice. The world is
blessed with few individuals who can tackle the increasing
and changing challenges to clean water and health,
starting from state-of-the-art science through dedicated
and original research, then moving to professional
dissemination, effective lobbying of the legislative arena,
influencing practitioners, and raising the general awareness.
Joan Rose is the leading example of this extremely rare
blend of tal