Maine Student to Represent U.S. in Prestigious International Water Science Competition

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Jun 21, 2010, 12:11 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rebecca Ye of Bangor, Maine was named the U.S. winner of the 2010 Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) – the most prestigious international competition for water-related research – during a ceremony this weekend at the Sheraton City Center in St. Louis, Mo.

The student's work, "Nanoparticle-amplified immunosensor enables excellent sensitivity in rapid detection of viable E. coli O157:H7", combines the sciences of microbiology and nanotechnology to create a biosensor capable of rapid identification strains of pathogenic bacteria E. Coli. The proposed technique represents a major advance in providing rapid and specific identification of the pathogenic bacteria so that corrective measures can be quickly and reliably implemented. Ye's project was selected from more than 40 state SJWP winners at the national competition held in St. Louis from June 17-20.

"The SJWP competition reinforces my belief that the future of America's water environment is in good hands," said Mohamed F. Dahab, Chair of the SJWP Review Committee. "The 2010 competition was intense, and the level of research and creativity presented by the young men and women that participated this year was simply exquisite."

Ye received $3,000 (USD) and an all-expense paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden, where she will compete against national winners from more than 30 countries for the international honor during World Water Week, September 5-11, 2010. HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden will present the international award – $5,000 and crystal sculpture – during a royal ceremony held in conjunction with the Stockholm Water Symposium.

Ye's school, the James School in Bangor, will receive a $1,000 grant toward enhancing water science education and she will have the opportunity to present her research to thousands of water quality professionals at WEFTEC® 2010 – the Water Environment Federation's 83rd annual technical exhibition and conference – this October in New Orleans, La.

Three U.S. finalists, Akshar Wunnava from Chantilly, Va., April Choi from Glen Rock, N.J., and Collin McAliley of Melbourne Beach, Fla., also received a $1,000 award.

The Water Environment Federation sponsors the U.S. SJWP with support from ITT Corporation (also the international sponsor), The Coca-Cola Company, and Delta Air Lines. The Missouri Water Environment Association hosted the 2010 national competition and Ye received sponsorship from the New England Water Environment Association.

To request high-resolution images of the winner and finalists, please contact Lori Harrison at [email protected]. For more information about SJWP, the complete list of state winners, and to download the winning abstracts, please visit www.wef.org.

About WEF

Formed in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. WEF and its Member Associations proudly work to achieve our mission of preserving and enhancing the global water environment.

SOURCE Water Environment Federation