A new way to clean up polystyrene waste and stop it from fouling waterways has won two Canadian teens the 2010 Stockholm Junior Water Prize. Alexandre Allard and Danny Luong of the Collège regional Champlain campus St-Lawrence and Cégep Sainte-Foy in Quebec City received their $5,000 U.S. award and prize sculptures from Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden at a ceremony Tuesday evening in Stockholm as part of World Water Week.
The two developed a technique that uses microorganisms and enzymes to break down the foam plastic used in many disposable cups, fast food containers and packing materials. "Expanded polystyrene [EPS] is a great threat to the environment, since it contributes to the spread of toxins such as styrene and bisphenol A into our waters," said the winners in a statement after receiving the prize. "We hope that our method will be widely used and consequently increase the water quality in the world."
Allard and Luong were among thousands of students aged 15 to 20 who competed in national competitions around the world to represent their country at an international competition held during the annual World Water Week meeting in Stockholm, which runs Sept. 3-11. They beat out water-related projects on topics of environmental, social or technological importance from more than 30 other countries. The conference is hosted by the Stockholm International Water Institute.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/09/08/allard-luong-stockholm-water-polystyrene.html#ixzz0yxJ8m3gk
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