International accolade for engineering team’s winning water project

Jun 24, 2005

A research team from the University of Wollongong has recently returned from Berlin, Germany, with one of the most prestigious engineering awards in the world.

The Mondialogo Engineering Awards involved more than 1,700 young engineers and students from 79 nations forming 412 international teams. The teams had worked together over the past year to produce engineering proposals to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development in developing countries. An international jury awarded prizes worth 300,000 euros to the 21 best project teams from 28 countries -- one of them being UOW.

A team of five led by Dr Andrea Schäfer from Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering won the award for its project on water supply which will involve field trials of solar-powered water treatment for remote communities in Papua New Guinea. The overall objective of the project is to provide sustainably clean drinking water to remote communities and prevent water-borne diseases.

The Mondialogo Engineering Awards challenge young engineers and technologists to enter into an intercultural dialogue and to find solutions for a better world.

The international award scheme is aimed at improving living conditions in developing countries by addressing basic needs such as the provision of water, food, medical services or housing. The awards also serve to generate enthusiasm among engineering students and to promote co-operation between educational engineering institutions.

Dr Schäfer said she was extremely proud to receive the award.

"The prize will help the team and the associated students with large scale support and funding."

The team is currently looking for test sites for another round of field trips to be carried out. A trip to Central Australia is planned for September and the team would be interested in hearing from communities reliant on brackish groundwater for their potable water supply who would like to see a demonstration of the unit.

For further information contact Dr Andrea Schäfer on 4221 3385.

For award recipients, projects and photos visit: Mondialogo 2005