Students Katherine Araya and Katya Urqueta from Chile have been awarded a Diploma of Excellence, as part of the 2015 Stockholm Junior Water Prize, for improving water use efficiency in agriculture. In their project, the students used fungus from an Antarctic root in lettuce production, which decreased the amount of water needed. “This team has found a locally relevant, constructive solution to a truly complex global problem,” the Jury said in its citation. “Their research addresses food security, water security, and the preservation of agricultural land. It provides a way for farmers to continue to manage their land and feed their nation in the face of growing uncertainty.” The international Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition brings together the world’s brightest young scientists to encourage their continued interest in water and the environment.
