A high-profile competition is encouraging young people to create solutions to real-world water problems, with a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to World Water Week in Stockholm.

The UK Junior Water Prize (UKJWP), hosted by the Chartered Institution of Water & Environmental Management (CIWEM), challenges students aged 15 to 20 to take a fresh look at water and develop a practical and innovative research project that could improve quality of life on a local, national and global scale.

The competition strives to help students improve their ability to identify climate issues, conduct independent scientific research, write compelling academic papers, and present findings to industry experts. All projects must use scientifically-accepted methodologies and can be based in natural sciences or social studies.

Applicants in the UK, from all walks of life, are encouraged to enter, particularly those with less privileged backgrounds and from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

The UKJWP winner will receive £1,000 and an all-expenses paid trip to Stockholm during World Water Week, which takes place 19-24 August 2023. Here, they will represent the UK at the international final of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and compete against representatives from more than 30 countries for the US$15,000 award.

Over the years, many ideas that started as Junior Water Prize projects proved to be important innovations that changed the lives of both the participants and their communities.

CIWEM hosts the 2023 UKJWP, in partnership with the Environment Agency, British Water, and Jacobs. Applications close on 7 May 2023.

For more information and to apply, visit ciwem.org/awards/ukjwp23