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De Stockholm Junior Water Prize viert dit jaar het 25-jarig bestaan. Net als vorig jaar reisden de finalisten niet af naar Stockholm, maar was er een online editie. In totaal deden er 44 finalisten uit 32 landen mee. Stijn Wiersma (18), winnaar van de Dutch Junior Water Prize, mocht Nederland representeren. Op dinsdag 24 augustus maakte Kroonprinses Victoria van Zweden de winnaars bekend tijdens de online Award Ceremony.
Drie prijzen
Dit jaar waren er, net als vorig jaar, drie prijzen te verdienen. De Public Choice Award, een nieuwe categorie waarbij het publiek via social media kon stemmen op uitlegfilmpjes van de finalisten, werd gewonnen door Brazilië. Het Diploma of Excellence, een prijs voor het project met veel potentie, ging naar Thailand. De hoofdprijs van 15.000 dollar is gewonnen door U.S.A. Dit winnende project is een onderzoek naar het gebruik van ‘Biochar’, oftewel verbrande biomassa. Door Biochar op een bepaalde manier aan te passen, kan je hiermee water zuiveren van organische en niet-organische vervuiling.
Nederlandse inzending
Ondanks dat Nederland niet in de prijzen is gevallen, blijkt het onderzochte thema van Stijn Wiersma wel belangrijk. ‘Bij de uitreiking van het Diploma of Excellence dacht ik even gewonnen te hebben. De omschrijving van het project van Thailand leek erg op het mijne!’
Stijn heeft onderzoek gedaan naar de relatie tussen deeltjesgrootte van organisch kunstmest en oplosbaarheid in water. Hij heeft hierbij hooi gebruikt als organisch materiaal. Ook heeft hij gekeken naar het effect van het gebruik van hooi op de mogelijkheid van de grond om water vast te houden. Een mengsel van hooi en grond kan beter water vasthouden dan zonder hooi. Met het gebruik van hooi hoeft zo bijvoorbeeld minder water gebruikt te worden door boeren.
Dutch Junior Water Prize
In Nederland zal er volgend jaar weer een editie van de Dutch Junior Water Prize plaatsvinden. Dit is een werkstukkenwedstrijd voor het beste idee op gebied van waterinnovatie. Tevens is dit de voorronde voor de internationale finale in Stockholm. Voor meer informatie, zie www.dutchjuniorwaterprize.nl. De Dutch Junior Water Prize wordt georganiseerd door het onderzoeksinstituut Wetsus in Leeuwarden.
English
U.S.A. wins 25th edition of Stockholm Junior Water Prize
On August 24th Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden announced the winner of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. This year’s winner is Eshani Jha from U.S.A., with her research on the use of adjusted ‘Biochar’ (burned biomass) for the removal of contaminants from water. The winner of the Diploma of Excellence is Thailand, and the winner of the Public Choice Award is Brazil. Stijn Wiersma, winner of the Dutch Junior Water Prize, represented the Netherlands with his research on the use of hay as a fertilizer to improve the water retainment quality of soil.
Just like last year this 25 th edition was held online. In total 44 finalists from 32 countries participated. Hopefully next year the finalists can travel to Stockholm again to meet each other in an inspiring week of events. For now we are proud of the participation of Stijn!
Abstract
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Abstract
In his key note he will conclude after a life of innovations that it is impossible that humanity will stay within the save planetary boundaries with innovation only. We should be more critical about the behaviour of the rich population in the world and more critical about new innovations that prove to be dangerous, like the PFAS crisis shows at this moment. In his keynote he will investigate how to look at the world that can stay within the save planetary boundaries, how should we change ourselves? It is clear if we only talk about the words of science and systems we miss the essential words of how we should cooperate and change ourselves. And his search for coherent save innovations. Which innovations will be save and will lead to a fair and sustainable world? And will lead to a world we want to live in.
Abstract
There is a growing number of new sustainable, inclusive, cohesive, participatory, just and humane economic models. A possible next step in the discourse about them is the comparative analysis in order to find out key commonalities, potential synergies, and “requirements” for a future-fit economic model. The author and initiator of the Economy for the Common Good provides an overview of these „new sustainable economic models“ and compares them according to underlying values, principles, and practical ways of implementation. The keynote addresses the cooperative spirit of the conference and prepares the ground for its public highlight on the eve of June 3rd, the round table with representatives of diverse future-fit economic models.
Abstract
The scientific debate on whether economies should always continue to grow increasingly becomes a political and societal debate. On the one hand further growth for the most affluent countries seems neither possible nor valuable, but on the other hand there is still lack of understanding and knowledge what a non-growing economy should look like and could best be governed. In this lecture we discuss various policy measures that can be realistically implemented, take into account government finances and aim at a higher quality of life despite a non-growing economy.
Abstract
Democracy is under pressure, and less and less able to stir the economy into a sustainable direction. Therefore, to stabilize democracy and to make possible the socio-ecological transformation of the economy, democratic principles need to be implemented directly in the economy. This is not only a matter of morality, but also has practical advantages. Democratizing the economy can increase legitimacy and take advantage of the “knowledge of the many” to accelerate the transformation. Democratic practices, especially deliberation, allow bringing together different forms of knowledge, which is crucial for the local implementation of principles of social and ecological sustainability. This talk explores what this idea means in more concrete terms, from democratic participation in the workplace to the democratization of time.
Abstract
Over the past decades, markets have conventionally been seen as the best instrument to stimulate economic growth and enhance prosperity and well-being. The automatic link between markets and economic growth is increasingly questioned, however, as well as the automatic link between economic growth and enhancement of well-being. This has led to attempts to capture well-being development more directly than through GDP per capita figures and has produced a more variegated picture of well-being growth. Also, this has led to a shift of focus to other coordination systems than the market, as primarily the state but increasingly also the association. Analyses of the historical record suggest that especially the latter could be a vital component in future well-being.
