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Stockholm
Junior Water Prize Winner
A One-on-One About H20
Scientists
say that we're all made up of 98 percent water. But in Katherine
Holt's case, the percentage is undoubtedly higher.
On August 13, Holt was selected as the winner of the 2002 Stockholm Junior
Water Prize. The annual award and competition is sponsored by ITT Industries
as a way to encourage young people to take an interest in water environment
issues. Holt doesn't need much help in this area. Where other kids dream
about being sports stars or singers, she dreams of working with water.
"I always wanted to be a biologist and I've always been intensely interested
in water issues," says the 18-year-old, who just began her freshman year
at James Madison University. "We grew up near the Chesapeake Bay [in Virginia]
and when I was 10 or 11, I remember doing an acid rain run-off project
for school."
Holt got an "A" on that assignment and now her latest water project earned
her a trip to Stockholm and top honors on an international scale. We asked
her about winning the Prize and how it's taken her water ambitions to
new levels.
Describe the basics of your winning project.
Oysters are natural water purifiers, so my project looked at ways we could
use oysters to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. The oyster population today
is only one percent of what it was in the late 1890's. My idea was to
introduce Asian oysters to the Bay - locating them in aqua culture centers
where they could be harvested for food. That would allow our native oyster
population to rebound - and together the Asian and native oysters would
augment the cleaning rate of the Bay.
I created a hypothetical reef model, built on a computer model. It's really
a management tool, allowing you to calculate how long it would take to
clean up the entire bay based on different volumes of Asian oysters.
Did you think your idea was good enough to win the International
prize?
No way. I just started it for local science fairs, and then it kept taking
me further - to regional competitions, state competitions, national competitions,
and then all the way to Sweden.
I thought I had no chance. Other students were dealing with very big issues
- like finding ways to clean Israel's only acquifer, or finding ways to
bring more clean water to African countries where there is no clean water.
I knew my project covered all the bases - science, ethics, economic issues.
But still, I was thinking, "I won't win. I just measure oysters."
When they announced my name, my heart stopped for two beats. It was an
absolutely exhilarating moment.
How did your involvement in the competition change your life?
It broadened my horizons. Talking with [Senior Water Prize Winner] Ignacio
Rodríguez-Iturbe and listening to the Symposium presentations made
me realize just how serious the world water crisis is. But at the same
time meeting all the young people from around the world - who are all
dedicated to the issue - gives me a lot of hope for the future.
It also gave me the satisfaction of knowing there's strong importance
to what I'm doing. The competition gave me the energy and drive to do
more research to address this global problem. I'm in college now, and
it makes my studies easier - because I can see the end use for all my
biology and chemistry lessons.
What do you want to do after college?
I would love to work for a company like ITT Industries that is on the
front line, dealing with issues like this and trying to make positive
changes. Knowing there are companies like yours out there gives me something
to look forward to.
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ITT
to Sponsor China Entry to Water Prize
ITT Industries already sponsors competitions for the Stockholm Junior Water
Prize in the United States, Sweden and Mexico. Starting in 2003, that list
will also include China.
"As a significant corporate citizen of China for many years, and as a leading
producer of technology that is used to clean water, we are especially pleased
to sponsor China's entry into this prestigious international environmental
competition," says Lou Giuliano, Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer of ITT Industries. "This sponsorship is another way to show our
friendship with China.
Lou
Giuliano's Speech
ITT
CEO Lou Giuliano addressed the Stockholm Water Symposium on August 15. To
view the text of his address in its entirety, visit ITT Industries website
at www.itt.com.
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