MUMBAI: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (
IIT Madras
) has introduced the first-ever India edition of the ‘Stockholm Junior Water Prize’, a
Global Water Challenge
for students in Classes 9th to 12th. This initiative aims to acknowledge and celebrate the innovative efforts of
young minds
in tackling crucial
water-related issues
. The winning team will represent India at the prestigious
Stockholm Junior Water Prize
in Sweden, scheduled for August 25th to 29th, 2024, during World Water Week.
Hosted by
Sustainability Venture Studio
at the School of Sustainability, IIT Madras, in collaboration with Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and sponsored by Aquamap – Center for Water Management and Policy, IIT Madras, the competition invites participants to submit their projects by April 30, 2024. A panel of experts will select the top 25 teams based on the quality of their submissions.
Indumathi M Nambi, Professor of Environmental Engineering at IIT Madras, emphasized the importance of nurturing innovation in young students regarding water issues. She stated, ‘The need for Innovations in the water domain should be seeded in the minds of students at a very young age. When they prepare and participate in such programs, it exposes them to the larger challenges faced by society, gives them the confidence that they can make a difference and opens the door to career choices in these domains.’
The competition focuses on highlighting exceptional projects addressing global water challenges such as Water Pollution, Unequal Access to clean water and sanitation, Water Scarcity, High Groundwater Stress, Agricultural Water Use, Water Governance & management, and Ecosystem Degradation.
Key features of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize include honoring ten outstanding teams with the National Water Champions Award, providing an opportunity for the top 25 teams to showcase their projects at IIT Madras, recognizing schools dedicated to water and environmental concerns, and offering presentation skills training and certificates to all top 25 teams from SJWP India and IIT Madras.