The IWSN Student Prize for 2015, for the best final year dissertation or project on a water topic by a UWE undergraduate, was awarded to BA Geography student Charlotte Whitmarsh.
Charlotte travelled to Uganda in the summer of 2014 as part of the UWE Global Water Security Project and researched the links between seasonality, climate change and water as a barrier to agriculture. You can read more about her trip here.
Henry Mwima, of the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL), and Aziza Akhmouch, of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Water Governance Initiative – both members of the IWSN External Advisory Board – judged this year’s prize and agreed to award it to Charlotte.
Dr Mwima said: “The study objectives are clearly elaborated and the analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data has established the correlation between poverty and dependency on rain-fed agriculture for communities in Kanungu District of Uganda. This study has provided a good baseline data for further study.”
Charlotte was awarded her £500 prize at her graduation ceremony on 20 July and said it was a “lovely surprise.” She added: “Receiving the IWSN prize, as well as a first, for my dissertation was such a rewarding moment. I loved every minute of my time in Uganda, the experience was incredible and unforgettable. It was amazing to draw on these experiences when writing up my dissertation and I believe this made my work more personal. To receive further recognition for a piece of work of which I am really proud and which reflects on a place close to my heart, is fantastic. I really hope that our work with IWSN and Africa can continue to determine ways to improve lifestyles in Uganda.”