Professor from University of Twente receives Baltic Sea Award24 October 2011 |
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On the evening of Monday 24 October, Professor Arjen Hoekstra from research institute IGS of the University of Twente received the Baltic Sea Award. He was awarded this prestigious prize for his research into the Water Footprint, a standard for measuring the impact of humanity on global water supplies. This is the first time that this award has been presented to someone from outside the Baltic Sea region. The President of Finland is among previous winners, and the prize includes funding worth 5,000 euros. The presentation awards ceremony was held in Gdansk (Poland), during the annual summit of the Baltic Development Forum and the second annual forum on the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region of the European Commission. The Baltic Sea Award is presented alternately to politicians, entrepreneurs and scientists. The jury includes Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland. The Water Footprint enables the water used for agriculture, industry and households to be measured. Although Professor Hoekstra did not invent the Water Footprint specifically for the Baltic Sea region, the organization recognized the exceptional potential of the concept and its benefits to the area. The Baltic Sea Region covers Northern Europe, including Iceland, North Germany and part of Russia. The region wants to raise its global profile, particularly in relation to sustainability. The Baltic Sea is one of the most polluted stretches of water in the world, mainly because of the excessive use of nutrients in agriculture and the insufficient treatment of waste water emitted into the rivers by households and industry. The rivers discharge this polluted water into the sea. The Baltic Sea Region wants to use the Water Footprint to improve the current situation. Professor Hoekstra devised the Water Footprint in 2002. This February saw the publication of the Global Water Footprint Standard, of which he is principle author. The Global Water Footprint Standard enables the Water Footprint to be measured and analyzed in a common language. This standard has gained world-wide support and is used by various governments and organizations. As well as holding a position as professor at the University of Twente, Professor Hoekstra is also scientific director of the Water Footprint Network, an organization that evolved thanks to enormous global interest in the Water Footprint. The Water Footprint Network has some 180 partners, which include governments, international institutes and the World Wide Fund for Nature. More information about the water footprint is available on www.waterfootprint.org. Note for the press: For more information, please contact Joost Bruysters (+31 (0)53 489 2773).
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