Chemical Engineers around the world have been challenged to put their design and innovation skills to the test and help some of the planet's poorest communities.
The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) are looking for individuals and teams to develop and use chemical engineering technology to support people living on less than $2-a-day, with the most worthy project being announced at the Institution's Annual Awards Dinner in Birmingham, UK later this year.
The winning entry of the "Dhirubhai Ambani Award for Resource-Poor People" will receive a $10,000 (6,409 EUR) donation to further their research and an expenses paid trip to the Awards Dinner.
IChemE president Dr Ramesh Mashelkar said that his own upbringing in the poverty-stricken streets of Mumbai made the prize especially important to him. He said: "There are so many people in the world who survive on less than $2 (1.28 EUR) a day and it is those people that this new award will support. I am looking forward to learning about some of the many outstanding projects that are taking place to support poorer communities."
The Award is sponsored by Indian manufacturing giants, Reliance Industries and named after the company founder, Dhirubhai Ambani. The prize will be presented at the IChemE Awards Dinner on 29 October.
