SWIG launches 2022 ‘Early Career Innovation Poster Prize’ scientific poster competition

The SWIG Early Career Innovation Poster Prize is intended to raise awareness of technology development and novel applications related to water measurements and thereby promote innovation in sensor research and commercial application.  

SWIG invites students and employees in the field of water sensors to design a poster summarising their research or development work. This is an opportunity for researchers and new staff within the water and environmental sectors to showcase their scientific talents and innovative thinking.

This year there is a £1,200 1st prize, £500 2nd prize and £200 3rd prize.

The competition is open to all ‘early career researchers’ to include students either in full time education or within the first 5 years of employment within their area of expertise.

The authors of all posters passing to the final judging phase will be invited to bring their posters to be displayed at the WWEM exhibition on 12-13th October 2022 and the top 3 will be required to record a short presentation on their work and give a short presentation at WWEM on the 12th October 2022. The winner will be judged on the poster and presentation at WWEM and the winner announced at a gala dinner at WWEM on 12th October 2022.

Ilaria was presented with a trophy and cheque for £1,200 during the gala dinner at WWEM2 2018, where she had earlier presented her research in the poster exhibition area entitled ‘Microwaves and Functional Materials: a Novel Method to Continuously Detect Zinc Ions in Water’. This technique could also be adapted to detect other environmental pollutants.

The winner of the 2018 prize was Ilaria Frau a PhD student at the Liverpool John Moores University [photo], with her work on ‘Microwaves and Functional Materials: a Novel Method to Continuously Detect Zinc Ions in Water’. Ilaria said

“winning the SWIG early career poster competition 2018 award was an indescribable achievement. Having the opportunity to present my PhD project and discuss it with experts in managing water resources was incredible. It raised the credibility and visibility of my research; my project focused on developing a portable sensing device for real-time detection of toxic metals in water using microwave spectroscopy. It also gave me recognition as a researcher working on the challenge of sensing water efficiently, and the opportunity to expand my network among external peers. Being recognised for my work has encouraged me to proceed with my interest in sensing technology for guaranteeing water quality.”

Full competition details are available here under ‘News/Early Career Poster Prize’ or you can contact rosa.richards@swig.org.uk for further information. Submission of posters and abstracts this year is online via a web portal.

The deadline for poster submissions is Thursday 30 June 2022.