Spain Bags First Prize in Global Water Award

138 projects from 43 countries competed to find innovative solutions to the problem of water scarcity in the world

Category: Innovative Youth Award, Dr. Eloy Garcia on Behalf of Dr. Marta Vivar, Spain (Photo: ME NewsWire)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--()--Dr. Marta Vivar from Spain was awarded the first place in a global award that tackles the issue of water scarcity through finding innovative solutions. The award, overseen by The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), includes three main categories: Innovative Projects Award (Small and Large projects), Innovative Research and Development Award (National and International institutions), and the Innovative Youth Award. Dr. Vivar won the third category.

Valued at $1m, the award was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to encourage sustainable and innovative solutions to address water scarcity using solar power. The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) oversees the award under the umbrella of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI).

Dr. Marta Vivar participated in the award presenting a Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic-Photochemical system for water disinfection and electricity generation. The system aims at increasing total solar spectrum conversion efficiency by using each part of the spectrum. Her efforts were recognised with a top place award.

In his speech, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia, noted that, according to UNICEF, hundreds of millions of children won’t have access to clean water in the future, and that girls now spend 200 million hours a day collecting water, which affects their education. He stated that the United Nations agency has warned us that 600 million children will live in areas with severely limited water resources by 2040, putting them at risk of deadly diseases.

HE Al Tayer said, "The Mohammed bin Rashid Global Water Award, which bears the name of a person whose generosity is not just for the people of the UAE, but also helps those in need anywhere in the world, is another significant milestone in the UAE's humanitarian efforts. It supports international efforts to provide drinking water to the needy by devising practical and sustainable solutions to water scarcity."

*Source: ME NewsWire

Contacts

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
Ribal Dayekh or Iman Saeed
+971-4-307-2006 or +971-4-515-0512
ribal.dayekh@dewa.gov.ae, iman.saeed@dewa.gov.ae
or
Hattlan Media
Nabil Khoury or Eman Hussein
+971-56-114-1177 or +971-50-736-6990
nabil@hattlan.com, eman@hattlan.com

Release Summary

Spain Bags First Prize in Global Water Award; 138 projects from 43 countries competed to find innovative solutions to the problem of water scarcity in the world

Contacts

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
Ribal Dayekh or Iman Saeed
+971-4-307-2006 or +971-4-515-0512
ribal.dayekh@dewa.gov.ae, iman.saeed@dewa.gov.ae
or
Hattlan Media
Nabil Khoury or Eman Hussein
+971-56-114-1177 or +971-50-736-6990
nabil@hattlan.com, eman@hattlan.com