U.S. Student Wins Junior Water Prize Competition
Joyce Chai of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., has been named the international winner of the 2008 Stockholm Junior Water Prize -- the most prestigious international competition for water-related research. Chai received $5,000 and a crystal sculpture from HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden during a royal ceremony Aug. 19 in Stockholm.
The student's work, "Modeling the Toxic Effects of Silver Nanoparticles under Varying Environmental Conditions," demonstrated a novel technique to quantifying the potential toxicity of silver nanoparticles to the world's water sources and the environment as well as repudiated the assertion that consumer products that contain nanosilver are more reliable and less environmentally hazardous.
Representing the United States, Chai competed against national winners from more than 30 countries at the international competition which is held every August in conjunction with the Stockholm Water Symposium during World Water Week in Sweden.
Chai will present her research to more than 18,000 water quality professionals at WEFTEC®.08 this October in Chicago, Ill.