Winner presented a new method for cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay
Alexandria, VA, June 5, 2002 -- The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and ITT Industries have nominated Katherine Holt, a senior at Bruton High School in Williamsburg, VA, as the 2002 United States finalist for the International Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP), the world's most prestigious water science prize for youth.
Holt, better known as the "Oyster Lady" for her project, "Cleaning the Chesapeake Bay with Oysters," was awarded an all-expense paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden where she will represent the United States in the international competition.
Her project was selected from a pool of 30 State SJWP winners at the U.S. National competition in Dallas, TX, hosted by the Water Environment Association of Texas, with financial support provided by The Coca-Cola Company.
Holt will compete with finalists from 23 countries for the International Stockholm Junior Water Prize ($5,000) awarded by HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden during World Water Week, August 10-16, 2002.
Holt set out to demonstrate how the Chesapeake Bay could be cleaned using the native oyster, Crassostrea virginicia and the non-native oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis. Using a scientific method that compared the biodeposits from organic and inorganic particulate matter ingested by the species, Holt developed a computer model to calculate numbers and percentages of the growth pattern of the two oysters in order to determine the number needed to clean the Bay in a specified time.
This study is believed to be the first conducted on the two species in the waters of the Atlantic and has important implications for enhancing the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay, preserving the native oyster as a species, and reviving a languishing oyster industry.
According to WEF member and Nomination Chair Dr. Charles Sorber, "all of the students should consider themselves winners and are worthy of celebration by the WEF Member Associations that sponsored their attendance".
WEF President Jim Clark agreed, "this year's competition produced such an impressive array of projects that choosing any single project as an overall winner was extremely difficult...but that was also the most exciting part of the program. The raw talent, excitement, and enthusiasm that these young people felt for improving both public health and the environment speaks well for the future of our field and the people we serve".
WEF and ITT Industries co-sponsor the Prize in the United States; ITT is the international sponsor. According to Clark, "the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition in the United States is an important element of the Federation's efforts to promote careers in water and wastewater management to the very best of our future scientists, engineers and managers".
ITT Industries', Bjorn von Euler concurred, "our hope is to entice the best young minds to water environment research. Together with WEF, we are promoting the science that will help meet the water quality challenges of the future."
Established in 1993 to engage and support the interest of young people in water environment issues at the regional, national, and international levels, the SJWP is awarded annually to high school students who have contributed to water conservation and improvement through outstanding research.
All projects are judged on the same five criteria: relevance, creative ability, scientific procedure, subject knowledge, and presentation.
In addition to the all-expense paid trip to Sweden, Holt will also receive $300, an engraved plaque, and a one-year complimentary membership to WEF, a global technical, scientific, and educational society of water quality professionals. For more information about the Stockholm Junior Water Prize visit www.wef.org.
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from varied disciplines who work toward the WEF vision of preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. The WEF network includes more than 100,000 water quality professionals from 77 Member Associations in 31 countries.
ITT Industries, Inc. (http://) is a global, multi-industry company with leading positions and advanced technologies in its served markets. The company reported revenues of $4.6 billion in 1999 from its four segments: Connectors & Switches, Defense Products & Services, Pumps & Complementary Products and Specialty Products. ITT Industries employs approximately 38,000 people around the world.
