An innovative pump design, which has resulted in some of the poorest people in Africa being provided with reliable and sustainable water supplies, has won the prestigious St Andrews Prize for the Environment.

Three Zimbabwe-based teachers, Ian Thorpe, Tendai Mawunga and Amos Chitungo, developed the Elephant Pump design and founded the non-governmental organisation “Pump Aid” in direct response to the deaths of three of their pupils from contaminated drinking water. Using simple technology and built from locally available materials, the Elephant Pump is easy and cheap to install and maintain.

At a ceremony in the University of St Andrews today, Ian Thorpe was presented with the winning prize of $30,000 and a medal on behalf of the project team. “I am delighted that Pump Aid has won this prize,” says Ian. The award will provide sustainable access to clean water for thousands of the poorest people in Africa. It will also enable them to irrigate crops during the dry season or when rains fail. We appreciate the recognition, as Pump Aid works to address the biggest environmental problem facing mankind today. Over a billion people will only escape the stranglehold of poverty and disease if they can secure sustainable access to clean water.”

Now in its 7th year, the St Andrews Prize is an environmental initiative by the University of St Andrews, which attracts scholars of international repute and offers the latest in teaching and research, and ConocoPhillips, one of the world’s largest integrated energy companies, with operations in more than 40 countries.

Sir Crispin Tickell, Chairman of the St Andrews Prize for the Environment Trustees, says: “The Prize is going from strength to strength. We had a record 261 entries this year, and the quality of the projects has remained extremely high. We are particularly interested in projects that can be replicated in several different regions, thereby increasing overall effectiveness and help to those who need it most.”

This year’s runners-up, each presented with a cheque for $5,000 were:

· Global Coral Reef Alliance, whose Biorock™ solution helps coral reefs survive and recover from diseases and exposure to excessive nutrients, climate change and physical destruction.
· Tree Talk, an environmental newspaper and tree seed distribution service, which has successfully established a substantial national tree growing and education programme in Uganda.

Full details on each of the finalists’ projects at www.thestandrewsprize.com

The Pump Aid website is www.pumpaid.org and the contact email is director@pumpaid.org

Dr Brian Lang, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews, says: “For over six centuries the University has upheld a tradition of academic excellence, and our association with the Prize adds weight to our reputation as a world leader in the field of sustainability and environmental studies.”

“Our continued support of this Prize is a practical way to achieve our aim of promoting economic growth, healthy environments and vibrant communities, now and in the years to come,” says Robert Ridge, Vice President, Health, Safety and Environment, for ConocoPhillips.

Recognising significant contributions to environmental conservation, the Prize has attracted entries from more than 50 countries each year since its launch in 1998, on topics as diverse as sustainable development in the Amazon rainforest, urban re-generation, recycling, health and water issues and renewable energy.

See the full list of previous winners and details about the Prize trustees on www.thestandrewsprize.com

Contact

For further media information, photographs, and to arrange interviews please contact Doug Allsop or Dick Mutch at:

Barker Mearns and Gill Public Relations
7 Carden Place
Aberdeen
AB10 1 PP
Tel +44 1224 646311. Fax +44 1224 631882
Email doug@mearns-gill.com; dick@mearns-gill.com