River flow pioneer Dr Jackie King receives 2019 Stockholm Water Prize

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson
Stockholm, 28 August (Greenpost 2019) – Dr Jackie King received the 2019 Stockholm Water Prize on Wednesday for her pioneering
research on water flows. Her work has led to a new kind of tools to
help decision-makers assess actual costs and benefits of alterations
to rivers. The prize was presented to Dr King by H.M. King Carl XVI
Gustaf of Sweden, Patron of Stockholm Water Prize, at a Royal Award Ceremony during World Water Week in Stockholm.

When congratulating the laureate, H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, praised Dr King’s ground-breaking research on river ecosystems and the social structures depending on healthy rivers, adding: “This is an
important contribution to one of the great global water challenges of our time.”
 
Dr King made a comment about her prize.
“The award shines a light on African rivers and African science and through me recognizes all African scientists. They stand by me tonight as none of us works alone.”
 
In its citation, the Stockholm Water Prize Nominating Committee noted
that “Dr Jacqueline King has, through scientific rigour, selfless dedication and effective advocacy, transformed the way we think, talk and work
with water as a flow of and for life.” 
 
Dr. King is an aquatic ecologist who co-founded the Freshwater Research Unit at the University of Cape Town where she was active for almost four decades. She became influential in the recently established field of
Environmental Flows, initially focusing on South African rivers. Later she has worked as a researcher and consultant in more than 20 countries
and with governments of the Mekong, Zambezi, Indus and Okavango
River Basins, among others. In addition to her consultancy work, King is
Extraordinary Professor at the Institute for Water Studies, University of
the Western Cape.

Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director of SIWI, emphasized the
importance of bridging the gap between science and policy: “Dr King’s
research has provided tools for decision-makers to enable them to
consider the benefits and costs around the management of river systems. Thanks to this new level of detail, governments can now make more
informed choices on how they proceed with developing their water
resources,” Mr Holmgren said. 

Dr King has advanced the scientific understanding of water flows and
developed tools and methods to assess the full range of costs and benefits when managing or developing river systems. She began developing her models as a researcher at the University of Cape Town, funded by South Africa’s Water Research Commission and influenced South Africa’s 1998 National Water Act. Today her work is increasingly guiding governments and institutions across the globe.
Dr King’s work has been recognized with both the Gold and Silver Medals from the Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists and with South
Africa’s “Women in Water” Award in the research category. She was also
the 2016 recipient of WWF-South Africa’s “Living Planet Award”.  Her
academic work includes over 100 refereed items in books, international
journals and conference proceedings.  
 
The Stockholm Water Prize is the world’s most prestigious water award. It honours women, men and organizations whose work contributes to the conservation and protection of water resources, and to the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants. All nominations are reviewed by the world-leading experts of the Stockholm Water Prize Nominating Committee. Thereafter the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences makes the final decision which is confirmed by the Board of SIWI. H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is patron of the prize. 
 
Stockholm Water Prize Founders (2019) are: Ålandsbanken, Bacardi, Poul Due Jensen Foundation, Ragn Sells, Water Environment Federation,
Xylem Inc.
 
SIWI is an international water institute working to solve global water
challenges by improving how water is used and managed. SIWI organizes World Water Week – the leading annual event on global water issues – and the Stockholm Water Prize and Stockholm Junior Water Prize, which
are awarded during World Water Week.

 Photo by Jonas Borg

Macinley Butson from Australia wins Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2019

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Stockholm, August 27,(Greenpost 2019) – This year’s water prize winner seems to be mostly from the Southern Hemisphere. After Jackie King from South Africa has won the Stockholm Water Prize, on Aug. 27, Macinley Butson from Australia has won the prestigious 2019 Stockholm Junior Water Prize.

H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden presented the prize at an exciting award ceremony during World Water Week, held annually in Stockholm.

Macinley Butson from Australia wins Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2019

Macinley Butson’s project developed a new, novel and innovative ultraviolet sticker to accurately measure large UV exposures for solar disinfection of water. The SODIS sticker is capable of accurately measuring the solar UV exposure required to sanitize drinking water through two innovative products built together.

As an elated Macinley received her prize from H.R.H Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

“I am still in complete shock. There are no words to describe how I am feeling because I can’t process what has just happened. Amazing people have inspired me so much this year and I never expected this outcome  Everyone here is doing so much amazing things and I feel confident the future is in good hands and I will never forget the connections I made here in Stockholm” said Mackinley Butson

In their citation the Jury noted that: “This year’s winning project addresses public health through renewable energy and water. The project embodies simplicity and affordability leaving no one behind. Water for society: including all! This invention is practical, ready and globally deployable. The project demonstrates experience and expertise by a dedicated and creative young scientist.”

Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director of SIWI, was very impressed by this innovative project

This inspirational project has immense potential for local and global communities. My hope is that this project will act as a catalyst to inspire others both young and old to innovate for new and sustainable ways to access clean and potable water,” Holmgren said.

A Diploma of Excellence was also awarded to Diana Virgovicova, United Kingdom, for her discovery of a New Photocatalyst to Solve Water Pollution. In their citation the Jury stated that Diana Virgovicova has.“solved a long-lasting challenge by opening new windows in using fundamental science combined with the most recent technics within chemistry to formulate a novel molecule with with high potential in promising future water treatment“

China’s students were also among the champions from 35 countries, they were national champions in their own country.

River flow champion wins 2019 Stockholm Water Prize

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Stockholm, Aug.28(Greenpost) — On March 19th, SIWI announced that Dr Jackie King was named the 2019 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate for her game-changing contributions to global river management. This evening she will receive the prize from the hands of his excellency Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf in the City Hall. The following picture was an interview with her at the opening plenary session of the World Water Week in Stockholm from Aug. 25-31.

She has advanced the scientific understanding of water flows, giving decision-makers tools to assess the real costs and benefits of river system development. Dr King led the development of the tools as a researcher at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and then as Honorary Professor at the University of the Western Cape.

With colleagues she created methods to demonstrate ecological and social implications of damming and de-watering rivers. On receiving news of the prize, Dr King said: “I find it humbling, energizing and rewarding. I have never sought high-profile jobs but was happy to be a working scientist, free to say what I felt needed to be said.”

Her commitment to raising awareness of the value of rivers and their importance for millions of people has made Dr King highly regarded by academics and water managers globally. In its citation, the Nominating Committee notes that “Dr Jacqueline King has, through scientific rigour, selfless dedication and effective advocacy, transformed the way we think, talk and work with water as a flow of and for life.”

Dr King’s work influenced South Africa’s 1998 National Water Act and is increasingly guiding governments and institutions across the globe. “Governments developing their water resources understand the potential benefits but not necessarily the costs in terms of degrading rivers. We can now show these ecological and social costs at a similar level of detail to the benefits shown by planners. It is a new kind of information to help governments better understand the trade-offs involved in development as they decide on their preferred future,” she says.

Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director at SIWI, comments that “Dr King has helped decision-makers understand that healthy river ecosystems are not a luxury, but the basis for sustainable development.”

The prize is awarded by SIWI in cooperation with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which is responsible for assessing the nominations, and will be presented by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Patron of Stockholm.