Water Tech Company Xylem Announces Winners of Its Annual Student Challenge

Students from the Philippines and Algeria won for their water conservation solutions.

• By Robert Yaniz Jr.
• Jul 23, 2024

Global water technology company Xylem announced that teams from the Philippines and Algeria are the grand prize winners of the 2024 Xylem Global Student Innovation Challenge.

This annual program invites high school and university students from around the world to develop solutions to pressing water issues. This year, over 4,400 students from 150 countries participated in the challenge. They were tasked with addressing three critical water problems: reducing ocean plastic waste, raising awareness about sustainability and water conservation, and lowering indirect greenhouse gas emissions through enhanced water purification methods.

“As global water challenges escalate, it’s more important than ever to provide a platform for the next generation of innovators,” Xylem’s Vice President of Sustainability and Social Impact Austin Alexander said in a statement. “We’re thrilled with the water conservation solutions that this year’s challenge winners have proposed. The work of these and other young innovators will have a major impact on the water sector for years to come.”

The high school division grand prize went to “Team AGWE — God of Water: Be Empowered. Take Action.” from the Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science in the Philippines. They developed an augmented reality tool to inspire action on water conservation.

In the university division, the grand prize winner was “The Blue: Immersive Water Conservation Learning Experience” from the University of Boumerdes in Algeria. They created a dynamic, gamified learning experience focused on rainwater capture and wastewater management.

The winners—which were announced during a virtual awards ceremony on June 20, 2024—share a $20,000 prize pool and can join the Xylem Ignite Innovation Incubator to further develop their solutions. Participants in the incubator program will receive grants and mentorship from experienced water industry professionals over a six-month period.

Now in its fourth year, the Global Student Innovation Challenge is part of Xylem Ignite, a global youth program empowering student leaders to drive change in the water industry. Participation has grown nearly sevenfold since its inception in 2021, with triple the number of countries.