Canadian, Annabelle M. Rayson, wins Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2022

Harmful algae blooms plague aquatic ecosystems around the world. They impact water quality and ecosystem diversity, cause dead zones, and cost the fishing and tourism industries millions of dollars.

Rayson’s father, a commercial fisherman, could no longer fish in certain areas due to harmful algae blooms, so Rayson undertook research to find a method to treat and prevent them.

Rayson learned the concept of biomanipulation, and which species of zooplankton was best to treat and prevent algae blooms. For this, she was announced as winner of Stockholm Junior Water Prize, an international competition where students between the ages of 15 and 20 present solutions to major water challenges.

Speaking on winning the prize, Rayson said: “It’s an absolute honour to be here with so many other brilliant young people, representing all the small-town little girls out there, dreaming of her own microscope and lab coat. Hey girls, we can still make it.”

The Jury noted that “the winning entry has a potential solution for a multi-faceted global problem. It is not just an issue for human health, but it also affects water courses and the species that live within them. Of the challenges we face in terms of public health, many are intimately intertwined with water quality, and the winner – dedicated, passionate and creative – has conducted extensive, bio-inspired research to address this pervasive issue.”

The winner was presented with her prize during an award ceremony at World Water Week by HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, the Prize’s Official Patron.

The Diploma of Excellence was awarded to Laura Nedel Drebes and Camily Pereira dos Santos from Brazil, for addressing the issue of period poverty – the inaccessibility to sanitary pads – with their development of sustainable and affordable sanitary pads from industrial by-products.

The People’s Choice Award went to Mishal Faraz from United Arab Emirates, completing the all-female line-up of winners.

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize has been organised every year since 1997 by the Stockholm International Water Institute, SIWI, with Xylem as Founding Partner.

“All Stockholm Junior Water Prize participants show passion and ingenuity that is truly inspiring and an important contribution towards a better future and a more water-wise world. Stockholm Junior Water Prize is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate these contributions,” said Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director at Stockholm International Water Institute.

Patrick Decker, President and CEO of Xylem, added: “On behalf of more than 17,000 Xylem colleagues around the world, I applaud all Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2022 participants, bringing their passion and their innovation to solve the world’s major water challenges. These students inspire us by embodying what’s possible when innovators from around the world come together – with bold ideas and conviction – to solve water.”