Christopher Whitfeld and Jonathan Zhao, both Year 12 students from Eton College, Berkshire, have been awarded the prestigious Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2024 (SJWP) for their innovative work on reducing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) pollution in locations along the River Thames.
The award was presented by HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden during a ceremony at World Water Week in Stockholm, highlighting the global significance of their achievement. The two students also shared a cash prize of $15,000.
As winners of the preliminary competition – the UK Junior Water Prize (UKJWP) 2024 – the students were awarded a £1,000 cash prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to Stockholm to represent the UK on the international stage and compete in the SJWP in Sweden.
The UKJWP, organised by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), in partnership with Jacobs and Arup, played a decisive role in nurturing Whitfeld and Zhao’s ground-breaking research. It is a national STEM competition that encourages young people, aged 15-20 years, to develop innovative solutions to local, regional, national or global water issues.
The problem of PFAS – ‘forever chemicals’
PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals widely known as ‘forever chemicals’ due to their persistence in the environment. These substances, used in products ranging from non-stick cookware and cosmetics to water-proof clothing and firefighting foam, pose significant health risks and have become a major environmental concern worldwide.
Whitfeld and Zhao’s project not only identified PFAS hotspots along the River Thames using advanced machine learning techniques, but the duo also field-tested their results and developed a cost-effective, point-of-use granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration system, designed to be installed on household taps.
Anna Daroy, CEO, CIWEM commented: “For over a decade, CIWEM has hosted the UK Junior Water Prize competition, which continues to inspire and empower young people to address some of the most pressing water-related challenges of our time. With PFAS pollution and other water issues gaining increasing attention, the contributions of these young scientists are more critical than ever in shaping a healthier and more sustainable world.”
On winning the prize, Christopher Whitfeld and Jonathan Zhao, commented: “PFAS chemicals continue to pose an existential threat to drinking water in communities across Western Europe. Their destructive footprint is a painful reminder that industrial regulation is still insufficient to prevent their diffusion.
“Our research aims to reduce the devastating impacts of PFAS pollution, and provides a potential solution that is accessible for all.”
The jury praised the students’ ability to transform data into actionable knowledge, which could have far-reaching implications for environmental management.
Alastair Moseley, Jury Chair, UKJWP, said: “I have had a close affiliation with this competition ever since creating and launching it in 2009 and I am a passionate advocate for UK water sector skills. There are boundless opportunities for young people to join the water sector and take part in the technological and digital revolution that is key to meeting the water challenges facing us in the 21st Century.”
The students’ project addresses this pressing issue by developing a geospatial neural network capable of predicting PFAS concentrations in the River Thames Basin with remarkable accuracy, providing a critical tool for mitigating pollution. Observing a 93% reduction in PFAS concentration, their solution reduced PFAS to below health limits of 4 ng/l.
PFAS chemicals have infiltrated various environments, including water systems, soil, and even human bodies, leading to increased regulatory scrutiny and the need for innovative solutions. The work of Whitfeld and Zhao highlights the critical role of young innovators in tackling these environmental challenges and contributing to a more sustainable future.
