Caleb Liow Jia Le and Johnny Xiao Hong Yu From Singapore Win Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2018

PR74938

STOCKHOLM, August 29, 2018 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Two students from Singapore, Caleb Liow Jia Le and Johnny Xiao Hong Yu, won the

2018 Stockholm Junior Water Prize for producing reduced graphene oxide, a

material that can be used to purify water, from agricultural waste products.

H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden presented the prize at an award

ceremony during World Water Week in Stockholm.

     (Photo:

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/736678/Stockholm_Junior_Water_Prize.jpg )

     (Photo:

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/736677/Stockholm_Junior_Water_Prize_SIWI.jpg )

In their project, Caleb Liow Jia Le and Johnny Xiao Hong Yu developed a new

method to produce reduced graphene oxide (rGO), a material that has huge

potential to purify water. Using durian rind and sugarcane bagasse the students

found a more environmentally friendly and cheaper method for producing rGO.

When asked how they would like to take this project further, Johnny Xiao Hong

Yu said: "We will definitely try to think of ways to improve it and make it

even more sustainable, even more environmentally friendly, so that it can be

used to make an impact in the future."

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize goes to the winners of an international annual

competition with more than 10,000 entries from young people between the ages of

15 and 20 who have conducted water-related projects. H.R.H. Crown Princess

Victoria of Sweden is the Patron of the prize.

In its citation, the Jury highlighted the wide local benefits of the students'

method: "This year's winning project inspires communities to find local

solutions to improve water quality and resource recovery. The project developed

a leading edge, inexpensive, and widely applicable method to clean water.

Further development of this method will lead to public health and ecosystems

protection."

Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director of SIWI, was very impressed by the

students' innovative project.

"Provision of clean water is one of humanity's greatest challenges. This year's

outstanding winners have found a way to purify water that is low-cost, builds

on locally available resources and can help getting clean water to the 2.1

billion people who still lack it," Mr Holmgren said.

Note to Editors:  

Information about Stockholm International Water Institute; Stockholm Junior

Water Prize and World Water Week: http://www.worldwaterweek.org and

http://www.siwi.org

Pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/siwi_water

Video: https://vimeo.com/siwi; http://www.youtube.com/SIWI_water

Twitter: @siwi_water [ https://twitter.com/siwi_water ], #WWWeek

Facebook: Stockholm International Water Institute [

https://www.facebook.com/SIWIwater ]

Instagram: siwi_youth [ https://www.instagram.com/siwi_youth/ ]

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/stockholm-international-water-institute/

Press contact: Kanika Thakar, Communications Manager, SIWI, press@siwi.org,  

Tel +46-8-1213-6036

SOURCE: Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)