ShanghaiMay 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From May 23 to 24, 2026, the 23rd National Middle School Student Water Science and Technology Invention Competition and Stockholm Junior Water Prize China Regional Selection Finals were successfully held in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The event was co-hosted by the Center for Environmental Education and Communications of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Publicity and Education Center of the Ministry of Water Resources, with sponsorship support from Xylem (China) Co., Ltd.
This competition attracted 4,975 students from 1,276 schools across 15 provinces, municipalities, and special administrative regions nationwide, submitting a total of 2,950 entries. Ultimately, 22 project teams advanced to the finals. After intense competition, Zhang Zihan, a student from Suzhou High School’s SIP Campus, won the Grand Prize with her project “Turning Plastic into Energy.” She will represent China at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize international competition in Sweden in August 2026.
Officials from the Center for Environmental Education and Communications of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Publicity and Education Center of the Ministry of Water Resources, along with Xylem China President Zhao Donghui, present the Grand Prize to the winner
At the finals, participating teams fully demonstrated the innovative thinking and hands-on abilities of contemporary middle school students through project presentations and Q&A sessions. The finals awarded one Grand Prize, 11 First Prizes, and several Second Prize projects, along with three Xylem Special Prize projects and three “Tanyuan Mingli” Creative Award projects from the School of Environment at Tsinghua University and the Tsinghua Suzhou Environmental Innovation Research Institute.
Group photo of First and Second Prize winners
Among them, as reviewed by expert judges, the three projects awarded the Xylem Special Prize are: “Algae ‘Bi’ Stealing Light—Application of Enteromorpha Biochar Composite Bismuth Oxybromide Photocatalytic Material in Antibiotic Wastewater Treatment” by Chen Yulai from Shanghai High School International Division; “Research on an Eco-Friendly Cyanobacterial Bloom Inhibitor Based on Horseweed” by Li Wenyu from Nanjing Jinling High School and Zhu Shaochuan from Nanjing Zhonghua High School; and “Research on a Laser-Sensing Intelligent Water Solid Density Measurement Instrument Based on Liquid Level Height” by Li Renbo from Beijing Railway No. 2 Middle School.
Group photo of Xylem Special Prize winners
Wen Xianghua, Chair of the Competition Judging Panel and Professor at the School of Environment, Tsinghua University, highly commended the outstanding performances of the students. She stated, “This competition fully showcases the scientific literacy and innovative spirit of the youth in the new era. All judges maintained a rigorous and professional attitude, engaging in in-depth discussions with students on key issues of each project, and conducting comprehensive and meticulous reviews and evaluations of all entries. Every project has its own shining points, and every participant deserves praise and encouragement.”.
Zhao Donghui, President of Xylem China, remarked, “Looking at this year’s entries, participants have moved beyond basic creative concepts of water conservation and protection. They are closely targeting the frontiers of global water environment governance, delving into new materials and new energy fields, and proposing solutions with both originality and practicality for emerging pollutants, complex water quality, and special scenarios. This fully demonstrates the vision, wisdom, sense of responsibility, and environmental stewardship of Chinese youth with a global perspective.”
Xylem China President Zhao Donghui delivers a speech
Officials from the Center for Environmental Education and Communications of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Publicity and Education Center of the Ministry of Water Resources noted that the National Middle School Student Water Science and Technology Invention Competition is not only a technology competition to test abilities and surpass oneself but also a practical classroom to cultivate ecological literacy and patriotic sentiments among youth, providing students with invaluable experience and transformation on their growth journey.
Before the official announcement of the finals results, Ma Lening, Marketing Director of Xylem China, as a veteran judge and water industry professional who has participated in the event multiple times, delivered an inspiring keynote speech to the participants and their advisors. While inspiring students to broaden their exploration ideas and practical approaches, he encouraged everyone to maintain their passion and make a difference for the future through small actions.
Xylem China Marketing Director Ma Lening delivers a keynote speech to participating students
Amid the intense competition, the event also organized visits for youth participants to the Suzhou Science and Technology City Water Purification Plant and Suzhou New District Tap Water Co., Ltd., allowing attendees to experience Suzhou’s water environment governance achievements from high-quality water supply to wastewater purification, and to learn professional knowledge about the entire water treatment process firsthand.
The Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) is a component of the world-renowned “Stockholm Water Prize.” It is awarded annually to young people aged 15-20 who have made outstanding contributions in water environment research and practice, and is known as the “Nobel Prize for Youth Water Science.” The Center for Environmental Education and Communications of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment serves as the national organizer for the Stockholm Junior Water Prize in China. Since 2003, it has been hosting the “National Middle School Student Water Science and Technology Invention Competition,” which has been successfully held for 22 editions. Since 2019, the Publicity and Education Center of the Ministry of Water Resources has co-hosted the competition. Currently, this event has been included in the Ministry of Education’s white list of national competitions for primary and secondary school students for the 2025-2028 academic years, and it is the only professional competition in the natural science literacy category focused on the ecological environment field.
Xylem is a global supporter of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, and Xylem China has been a steadfast supporter of the “National Middle School Student Water Science and Technology Invention Competition” since its first edition, continuing for 23 consecutive years with unwavering commitment, passing the torch to nurture and cultivate a new generation of water science and technology youth talent in China.