Stockholm Water Prize

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Presented annually since 1991, the Stockholm Water Prize [1] is a prestigious award that recognises outstanding achievements in water related activities. Over the past two decades, Stockholm Water Prize Laureates [2] have come from across the world and represented a wide-range of professions, disciplines and activities in the field of water.

Any activity or actor which contributes broadly to the conservation and protection of the world’s water resources, and to improved water conditions which contribute to the health and welfare of the planet’s inhabitants and our ecosystems, is eligible to be nominated for the Stockholm Water Prize.

The Stockholm Water Prize Laureate is announced each March at the UN World Water Day and honoured each August during the World Water Week in Stockholm at a Royal Prize Ceremony and Banquet in the Stockholm City Hall. At the ceremony, the Laureate receives the prize from H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who is the patron of the Stockholm Water Prize.

The prize, created and financed by the Swedish Water Foundation and is administered by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) [3], includes a 150,000 USD award and an Orrefors crystal sculpture.

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize and the Stockholm Industry Water Award are also administered by SIWI and awarded during the World Water Week in Stockholm each August.

[edit] Past Winners and Official Motivation

2008: Professor John Anthony Allan, King’s College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies

For pioneering the development of key concepts in the understanding and communication of water issues and how they are linked to agriculture, climate change, economics and politics, including the virtual water concept, which measures how water is embedded in the production and trade of food and consumer products.

2007: Professor Perry L. McCarty, Stanford University, United States

For pioneering work in developing the scientific approach for the design and operation of water and wastewater systems. He has established the role of fundamental microbiology and chemistry in the design of bioreactors. Professor McCarty has defined the field of environmental biotechnology that is the basis for small-scale and large-scale pollution control and safe drinking water systems.

2006: Professor Asit K. Biswas, The Third World Center for Water Management

For his outstanding and multi-faceted contributions to global water resource issues, including research, education and awareness, water management, human and international relations in both developed and developing countries.

2005: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) under the directorship of Ms. Sunita Narain, New Delhi, India

For a successful recovery of old and generation of new knowledge on water management, a community-based sustainable integrated resource management under gender equity, a courageous stand against undemocratic, top-down bureaucratic resource control, an efficient use of a free press, and an independent judiciary to meet these goals.

2004: Professor Sven Erik Jørgensen, Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark; and William J. Mitsch, Olentangy River Wetland Research Park at The Ohio State University in Columbus, United States

For their pioneering development and global dissemination of ecological models of lakes and wetlands, widely applied as effective tools in sustainable water resource management.

2003: Professor Peter A. Wilderer, Technical University of Munich, Germany

For the development and demonstration of integrative approaches to water and wastewater management across the spectrum of fundamental research, applied research, technology implementation and sustainable water management.

2002: Professor Ignacio Rodríguez-Iturbe, Princeton University, United States

For lasting contributions to surface hydrology, where he has been in the forefront of the scientific evolution that placed hydrology in the fellowship of Earth Sciences.

2001: Professor Takashi Asano, University of California at Davis, United States

For his outstanding contributions to efficient use of water in the domain of wastewater reclamation, recycling and reuse through theoretical developments, practical research and worldwide adaptation and promotion.

2000: Professor Kader Asmal, Ministry of Education, South Africa

For unprecedented efforts in the development of vision, legislation and practice in the field of water management in South Africa.

1999: Professor Werner Stumm, Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland and James J. Morgan, California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, United States

For outstanding contributions to aquatic chemistry of great importance for understanding chemical reactions in the water environment and which contributed to the development of techniques for treatment of wastewater and drinking water.

1998: Professor Gedeon Dagan, Tel Aviv University, Israel

For having established the basis of a new field within geohydrology where contaminant spreading in the subsurface environment is determined in such a way that it accounts for heterogeneity and for biochemical processes.

1997: Professor Peter S. Eagleson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States

For his achievements in developing models for dynamic hydrology and eco-hydrology.

1996: Professor Jörg Imberger, University of Western Australia

For his contributions to the understanding of mixing and transport in lakes, estuaries and coastal seas and their influence on water quality.

1995: Water Aid, under the leadership of Jon Lane, Great Britain

For bringing water and sanitation facilities to over three million people in the world’s poorest countries.

1994: Dr. Takeshi Kubo, Research Institute of Wastewater Management, Japan

For his bridge-building work between nations in Asia and Europe.

1993: Dr. Madhav Atmaram Chitale, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, India

For his achievements in the fields of water conservation and public education programs in Southeast Asia.

1992: Department of Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark, under the leadership of Professor Poul Harremoës'

For research within water purification, contaminated groundwater and tools and techniques to protect it.

1991: Professor David W. Schindler, University of Alberta, Canada

For research into excess nutrification and acidification of freshwater lakes.