Sunshine Coast high school student Kym Wittholz is set to take on the nation’s brightest as the inaugural winner of the Seqwater Future Water Leaders School Challenge.
The year 12 student from Immanuel Lutheran College on the Sunshine Coast will now compete to be the Australian entrant for the International Stockholm Junior Water Prize at the World Water Week Stockholm Conference in August 2010.
The Seqwater Future Water Leaders School Challenge, in partnership with the 12th International Riversymposium, was open to Year 12 students from across South East Queensland. They were invited to write an essay based on the theme of this year’s International Riversymposium: “Rivers from Source to Sea”.
The water competition is part of the Seqwater Up a Dry Gully educational program developed to challenge students to identify how water can be delivered to a community now and into the future against changing climate conditions and growing population.
Seqwater Chief Executive Officer, Mr Peter Borrows, said he was impressed with the quality of work produced by students across the region.
“This competition aims to increase interest in water-related issues and research, and to raise awareness and knowledge of water challenges. It is a wonderful opportunity for someone interested in pursuing a career in the water industry,” Mr Borrows said.
“Kym’s paper entitled: Managing Catchments and Natural Surrounds, uniquely investigated a case study on the Sunshine Coast. It was well researched and very creative, with each of the judges able to imagine paddling along the Mooloolah River.
“As part of her prize Kym is invited to be a guest speaker at the Riversymposium to be held in Brisbane from September 21. She will have the opportunity to present in the company of water professionals from around the world.
“She will also to be entered as our entrant in the Australian Water Association Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition to be held in Brisbane in March 2010. The winner of the AWA Australian winner will compete for the International Stockholm Junior Water Prize at the World Water Week Stockholm Conference in August 2010.’’
Background
The Seqwater Future Water Leaders School Challenge is open to all Year 12 students across South East Queensland via the Up a Dry Gully educational program. It is envisaged the Challenge will be opened up to Year 10 and 11 students over 2010-2011.
Students had to write an essay on the theme of this year’s International Riversymposium: “Rivers from Source to Sea”.
The judging panel was made up of four members from Seqwater and Riversymposium, and judging took place on 15 September 2009.
Kym Wittholz will have the opportunity to present her paper at the Riversymposium from March 21-24 and will also be the Seqwater entrant in the Australian Water Association Australian Junior Stockholm water competition to be held in December in Melbourne.
The AWA Australian winner will compete for the International Stockholm Junior Water Prize at the World Water Week Stockholm Conference in August 2010. The international competition aims to increase interest in water-related issues and research, and to raise awareness and knowledge of global water challenges.