A team of six students from Eagles Grammar International School in Malaysia won the Sustainability Award for their investigation into how phytoremediation (using plants to clean contaminants in soil, air or water) can be used to reduce eutrophication (excessive build-up of organic pollutants in water).
One of the leading causes of eutrophication is the over-usage of fertiliser in the agricultural industry, which produces large amounts of phosphates. Charis Tan Lynn Yee, Isabel Liau Jin Ru, Ng Yan Toong, Shriyadita Muralitharan, Yee Li Khai and Iman Nazeem Chaudhry identified two different aquatic plants as suitable for reducing such phosphates. These were Pontederia crassipes (Elodea) and Canadensis hydrocrocharitales (Water Hyacinth), both chosen for their optimum temperature and pH that suited the Malaysian climate.
The team tested the plants individually and together, measuring phosphate levels of the water before and four days after adding the plants. The students found that the phosphate water with both the Elodea and Water Hyacinth had phosphates reduced by 100%.
Team member Ng Yan Toong said: 'This competition has enhanced my understanding of the preciousness of nature and served as a reminder of the importance of awareness. Winning the Sustainability Award is not only a testament to our hardiness and ability but also a result of our teamwork and dedication.'
The judges were particularly impressed by the team’s use of natural and sustainable solutions to a growing problem of local and global significance. The judges commented that 'the team did careful research which informed their use of an innovative combination of local plants to combat eutrophication. They carried out their investigation in a logical and robust way, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of their methods. The judges would have been interested to see the results replicated.'