The international Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) is a competition that encourages young people's interest in water and environment issues. Beginning in 1995, the award is given annually for an outstanding water project by a young person or a small group of young people at a ceremony held during the World Water Week in Stockholm. The first two years the competition was held on a national level in Sweden. From 1997 onward the competition has been held in its current international format. The international Stockholm Junior Water Prize winner receives a US$15,000 scholarship and a blue crystal sculpture.
The finalists at the international Stockholm Junior Water Prize are the winners of their national contests, drawing over 10,000 entries from over 30 countries. The national and international competitions are open to pre-university young people ages 15âÂÂ20 who have conducted water-related projects on topics on environmental, scientific, social, or technological importance. The national competitions have helped students around the world become active in water issues.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is the Patron of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, and has been since its foundation. Stockholm Water Foundation administers the Stockholm Junior Water Prize.
Past winners are as follows.
National winners who attend the SJWP, participate in a six day program that is filled with social, cultural, and environmental activities.
One unique component of SJWP is the prize-giving ceremony. Crown Princess Victoria is in attendance, along with the Chairman of the Stockholm City Council. Participants are then introduced by their country, in alphabetical order. Participants stand on stage and fly their national flag. Speeches are given by the competition organiser, Chairman of the Stockholm City Council, and figures from the competition sponsor's Xylem Inc. There are musical intermissions.
Awards are given out in relatively quick succession. The People's Choice Award is presented by the organiser Ania Andersch, and the winner is interviewed. A video produced by the participant explaining their idea is then played. The Diploma of Excellence is handed out by the Crown Princess, and the winner is given an interview as well. Their video is also played. The ceremony closes with the announcement of the Winner of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. The Stockholm Junior Water Prize statue is handed out by the Crown Princess, their video is played, and then they are given a more extensive post-win reaction interview on stage. When the ceremony ends, the winners follow behind the Crown Princess and have a private conversation with her for five minutes.
The statue has the same design as the Stockholm Water Prize statue.
The highlight of the trip for many participants is the banquet hosted at the Stockholm City Hall, the venue of the Nobel Prize dinner. The King or Queen of Sweden, or both, are in attendance, and guests are treated to a reception, three-course meal, and coffee. Musicians perform throughout the evening as well, with tributes to ABBA contrasted by thematic pieces like Ravel's Ondine. The Stockholm Water Prize Laureate gives a speech, as well as the chair of the Stockholm Water Prize Jury. Guests are expected to wear black tie or a national costume. The banquet occurs on the last night (Wednesday) of the SJWP week, although World Water Week continues until the Friday. The banquet invites leading figures involved in the organisation of the WWW, typically about 200 people.
Participants spend half a day at the headquarters of Xylem, the competition sponsors. There, they are given insights into Xylem's research into pumps and fluid dynamics, career opportunities at Xylem, and an inspirational talk from environmental activists. In 2024, Mina Guli, an ultramarathon runner from Australia who raises awareness about the water crisis, spoke to the finalists. As part of WWW, finalists are given the chance to engage in some of the events that are on offer. In 2024, finalists participated in a workshop promoting gender equality in the water sector.
One aim of SJWP is to connect the diverse international cohort together, to foster lifelong connections. Participants usually stay at the Scandic Klara Hotel in central Stockholm. There, they are provided breakfast and accommodation. In previous years, the cohort has been given city tours of Gamla stan and the Central Business District, and been allowed to visit the range of museums and monuments in the area, such as the Avicii Experience. Speed-networking sessions, a party, games, and karaoke have all been part of the program in the past. These informal sessions culminate with a visit to Skansen, where participants and those connected to the prize are hosted for a traditional meal, and tour of the museum after the SJWP ceremony.
To compete at the international SJWP, countries must submit a paper no longer than 20 pages (excluding references and a title page). They must then prepare a presentation, which is limited to 6 slides, and a video for the People's Choice Award. In Stockholm, each team will present three times on the same day, to three juries composed of hydrologists and other water experts. These presentations are strictly limited to five minutes in length. This is followed by a 10 minute Q&A.
To compete at the SJWP, participants must win the finals in their own country first. More than 40 countries have participated in the prize, which means there is much variation in how the prize is dealt with at a national level. The following table summarises the nature of these competitions. All information has been collected from national organisers directly.