Oil Sands Waste
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Academic
Cleaning up Naphthenic Acid Waste in a Quick and Efficient Manner Using Filters Made from Sand and Bacteria
ince 2011, Google has been challenginginnovativeteens aged 13-18 from all around the world, to use their technology and scientific know-how to transform the world into a better place. Contestants are categorized into three age categories (13-14, 15-16, 17-18) and five semi-finalists are selected from each. The fifteen youngsters are then flown to the company's headquarters inMountain View,CA, to present their ideas to a group of judges, who select a winner from each category, one of whom is also declared the overall winner.
Cleaning Up Oil Sands Waste
Haley Todesco, a 17-year-old fromAlberta,Canada, took home the title in the 17-18 age group category. For her project, she tackled another big world issue -pollutioncaused by oil extraction. According to the young girl when a heavy oil known asbitumenisextractedfrom oil sands ( a natural mixture of sand, water, clay and oil ), theresidueleft behind containstoxicnonbio-degradablecompounds that are collectively known as Naphthenic acids (NAs). These could present a majorenvironmentalhazard for humans and wildlife if allowed to accumulate.
Her invention, which was inspired by a fifth grade project that involved using pop bottles and sand to make water filters, involves cleaning up the toxic waste in a quick and efficient manner using filters made from sand and bacteria. It took the young girl two years of research and countless number of experiments, to make thisbreakthrough.
But it has been worth it. In addition to the Google category win, on September 3rd, she also received the 2014 Stockholm Junior Water Prize, which came with a scholarship of $15,000 USD and an additional $5,000, for her school.
Also recognized for their brilliant inventions were two other teenagers. 15-year-old New Yorker Kenneth Shinozuka won the Scientific American Science in Action award, for building a wearable sensor that helps people suffering from Alzheimer'sdisease. India's Arsh Dilbagi, took home the Voters Choice award for his device that enables people with speechimpediments, to communicate byexhaling.
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