St Andrews Prize for the Environment

Thursday 15 September 2011

The University of St Andrews and international integrated energy company ConocoPhillips have today announced the call for entries for the St Andrews Prize for the Environment 2012.

As the University of St Andrews celebrates its 600th Anniversary, the University and ConocoPhillips are delighted to announce that the prize value has risen from £78,000 last year to its highest ever value of £95,000.

Now in its fourteenth year the primary objective of the prize is to find innovative solutions to environmental challenges. The solutions should be combine good science, economic reality and political acceptability.

Applications are invited from individuals, multi-disciplinary teams or community groups for the annual prize of £63,000 for the winner and £15,800 for each of the two runners up.

The prize offers people from all backgrounds around the world the chance to help transform their environmental ideas into reality and also provides a network of connections and support.

Professor Ian Johnston of the University of St Andrews, one of the co-ordinators of the prize, said:

“The St Andrews prize is going from strength to strength attracting an impressive range of practical projects in sustainable development from around the world.  Past winners have used the prize money and the support network provided by the Trustees to bring lasting improvements to the quality of life and environment of people worldwide.”

Last year the prize was awarded to clean energy company BioLite for an innovative cookstove, which provides improved air quality and a clean economic source of electricity inside the home. Solid biomass fires, used by almost half the global population are inefficient and amongst the most greenhouse intensive systems in the world per unit of energy delivered. BioLite has developed a cookstove that slashes emissions by up to 95 percent and also provides electricity for charging LED lights, mobile phones and other devices used in rural areas where open fires are prevalent. Their prize money is now helping them to develop their programme by funding capital costs, hardware and administration expenses.

Recognising significant contributions to environmental conservation, the prize has attracted more than 2,5000 entries, from more than 50 countries, on topics as diverse as: sustainable development in the Amazon rainforest, urban re-generation, recycling, health and water issues, and renewable energy.

Anyone wishing to enter the 2012 prize should submit a single page project summary of no more than 500 words by 31 October 2011.

Submissions for the prize will be judged by trustees from across science, industry and government.

For full details about the prize and how to enter go to: www.thestandrewsprize.com or contact the St Andrews Prize for the Environment office on 01334 462 161.

The St Andrews Prize for the Environment can also be found on Facebook.


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