Sixth Form research project highly commended in the UK Junior Water Prize 2023

Congratulations to Khadija in Year 12, Hawking, whose entry into the UK Junior Water Prize 2023 (UKJWP) was highly commended at the Flood and Coast Conference in Telford this month.

Khadija’s entry, which focused on researching plant and electricity behaviour, came runner-up in the prestigious competition and she will receive a trophy, certificate of excellence, and a cash prize in recognition of her outstanding research and invention. Khadija will also feature in a published interview with the Environment Agency. 

The UK Junior Water Prize is a national STEM competition, hosted by the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) in partnership with the Environment Agency, British Water, and Jacobs and is aimed at solving environmental challenges with a link to water quality and security. Entrants are challenged to take a fresh look at local and global water problems, and to develop an innovative research project that could improve quality of life. 

Khadija who is studying Maths, Physics, Product Design and Media Studies at Cheltenham Bournside Sixth Form said, "My paper tested my hypothesis to then produce a blue-green infrastructure unit which, when comes in contact with heavy metal-contaminated water and other microorganism-rich liquids, produces electricity and simultaneously cleans that water from the flow of electrons and transpiration stream, leaving behind solid metals - all of this is done using just one houseplant enclosed in a system that I built." 

One of the judges commented, "It truly was a really inspirational read; a really well-presented paper which was easy to follow and digest. Your presentation was very well structured, and the graphics complimented your key messages. It was clear that you had done extensive research into all aspects of this system."

Mrs Littlewood, Deputy Head of Sixth Form and Khadija's Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) supervisor said, "Well done to Khadija on such a fabulous achievement. We're very proud of her and we are delighted that her entry, representing Bournside was so highly commended. Khadija is now Junior Water Prize alumni too, enabling her to network with peers and potential mentors and sponsors from around the world. Fantastic!"