About the Stockholm Junior Water Prize

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) was founded in 1997 by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) to complement the Stockholm Water Prize. The SJWP is the world's most prestigious award presented to a high school student for a water-research project.

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has coordinated the U.S. SJWP competition since its inception in 1997. WEF partners closely with their Member Associations (MAs) to execute the program.

The competition is open to public, private, or independent high school students in grades 9-12 who will have reached age 15 by Aug. 1 of the competition year and who have conducted water-related science projects. Entries receive ratings for relevance, methodology, subject knowledge, practical skills, creativity and paper/presentation. For full details see the Eligibility and Entry page.

The competition currently relies heavily on established science fair competitions such as the International Science and Engineering Fair. There is also an on-line submittal opportunity to include students in private schools, home schools, or who have conducted independent projects. It is not necessary for a student to have had a project in a science fair to enter.

SJWP Levels

The overall SJWP competition consists of four levels: regional, state, national, and international. Awards are given at each of these levels to recognize student achievement in water-related research.

• Regional Competition. Award certificates are presented to students at local science fairs or other science competitions throughout the U.S. as an acknowledgment of their water-research project. Students who receive a regional award must enter their paper online to be eligible to participate in their SJWP state competition.
  
  Regional winners receive a SJWP regional certificate and a nomination to compete in the SJWP state competition. (Note: The competition is open to all qualifying students whether or not they have participated in a science fair. Students may self-nominate.)
• State Competition. Entries submitted online are divided by state and sent to the specific state's panel of qualified judges. Each state will choose a winning project to represent at the U.S. national competition. State winners are announced online each year on May 5.
  
  State winners receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the SJWP U.S. National Competition in the third week of June and a U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize medal. (Note: Some states present their state winners with additional awards. For information on your specific state, consult the State Deadlines and Awards List.)

• U.S. National Competition. At this competition, one project will be chosen to represent the U.S. at the International Competition in Stockholm, Sweden. Up to two runners-up will also be chosen to receive an additional award.
  
  The U.S. SJWP National winner(s) receives a $10,000 scholarship and a national trophy (per project) as well as a framed U.S. SJWP Winner certificate and an all-expenses-paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden, to compete in the International Competition during World Water Week at the end of August.
• International Competition. The U.S. winner(s) will join winners from 30 countries to compete for the international title in Stockholm, Sweden during World Water Week.
  
  The International SJWP winner will receive $15,000 USD, the international crystal trophy, and a $5,000 USD award given to the winning student's school. (Note: SJWP International awards are subject to change. To learn more about the international competition, visit the Stockholm International Water Institute website.)

SJWP History

SJWP initially was a paper competition from 1997 to 2001. Eligible projects were gleaned from the regional and state International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) by MA-appointed judges.

In 2002, the MAs sent their state winners to the first onsite event that was jointly hosted in Dallas, Texas by WEF and the Water Environment Association of Texas. The event was modeled after the international event, including three days of competition and social activities.

National Competition Locations

• 2002: Dallas, Texas; hosted by the Water Environment Association of Texas
• 2003: Dallas, Texas; hosted by the Water Environment Association of Texas
• 2004: Denver, Colorado; hosted by the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association
• 2005: Portland, Oregon; hosted by the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association
• 2006: Atlanta, Georgia; hosted by the Georgia Association of Water Professionals
• 2007: Phoenix, Arizona; hosted by the Arizona Water & Pollution Control Association
• 2008: Orlando, Florida; hosted by the Florida Water Environment Association
• 2009: Anchorage, Alaska; hosted by the Alaska Water Wastewater Management Association
• 2010: St. Louis, Missouri; hosted by the Missouri Water Environment Association
• 2011: Chicago, Illinois; hosted by the Illinois Water Environment Association
• 2012: Boston, Massachusetts; hosted by the New England Water Environment Association
• 2013: Portland, Oregon; hosted by the Pacific Northwest Water Environment Association
• 2014: Herndon, Virginia; hosted by the Water Environment Federation with support from the Virginia Water Environment Association
• 2015: Herndon, Virginia; hosted by the Water Environment Federation with support from the Virginia Water Environment Association
• 2016: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina; hosted by the Water Environment Federation with support from the North Carolina Water Environment Association
• 2017: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina; hosted by the Water Environment Federation with support from the North Carolina Water Environment Association
• 2018: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina; hosted by the Water Environment Federation with support from the North Carolina Water Environment Association
• 2019: The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; hosted by the Water Environment Federation with support from the Ohio Water Environment Association
• 2020: The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; hosted by the Water Environment Federation with support from the Ohio Water Environment Association