Student Water Award of the Society of Water Chemistry

- funded by the Walter Kölle Foundation -

The Society of Water Chemistry of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) will award up to three Student Water Awards for the first time in 2026 to recognize outstanding Master's theses in the water chemistry fields of environmental and water sciences, environmental and water analysis, water engineering, and related disciplines. These theses must demonstrate high innovative potential, a compelling objective, and a clear structure. Each award includes a certificate, €500 in prize money sponsored by the Walter Kölle Foundation, and a one-year complimentary membership in the Society of Water Chemistry. The awards ceremony will take place during the annual conference , WASSER. The award committee will be comprised of members of the Young Water Forum (JWF); the final decision regarding the award recipients will be made by the Board of the Society of Water Chemistry .

Criteria for evaluating submitted work: (1) Abstract & Introduction, (2) Research hypotheses, (3) Method selection, methodological diversity & implementation, (4) Clarity of discussion & conclusion, (5) Potential impact on water research, (6) Originality & discussion of literature, (7) Language & presentation, (8) Time spent & research depth, (9) Grading, (10) Justification of recommendation

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On May 11, 2026, the Student Water Award 2026 was presented for the first time to Emily Lichtenwald, Anita Lopes Souto and Jennifer Schmidt at the Water 2026 Conference .

Emily Lichtenwald: "...in recognition of her outstanding master's thesis entitled "Biotransformation of selected PFAS – comparison between bacteria and fungi". The work was carried out in the working group of Dr. Daniel Zahn at the University of Leipzig and at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research."

Anita Lopes Souto: "... in recognition of her outstanding master's thesis entitled "Identification of Ozone-induced Transformation Pathways of Cyanobacterial Toxins". The work was carried out in the working group of PD Dr. Elisabeth Janssen at the University of Zurich and Eawag."

Jennifer Schmidt: "... in recognition of her outstanding master's thesis entitled "In vitro toxicity of road runoff from different road types using reporter-gene assays". The work was completed in the working group of Dr. Sabrina Schiwy at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main."