Rachel Brouwer

Rachel Brouwer (born 2001 or 2002)[1] is a Canadian from Bedford, Nova Scotia, who while still a secondary student invented a new method of killing bacteria in drinking water which requires no fuel and uses material commonly available in third-world countries.[2]

Early life and education

Rachel Brouwer was a student at Bedford Academy when she invented her device. After graduation from Bedford Academy Rachel Brouwer became a student at Charles P. Allen High School.

Invention and awards

She started developing her purification system when she was eleven years old. She was inspired after reading about cholera in I Am Malala the biography of Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai and seeing "do not drink" signs posted during a trip.[3] The next year she demonstrated it at the Halifax Science Expo.[4] Later, Brouwer entered her invention in the Canada-Wide Science Fair, and won a gold medal.[5][6]

Brouwer's water pasteurizer is made of ABS pipe, plastic water bottles, cotton and charcoal.[7] The water is heated in the sun and bacteria are killed by ultraviolet radiation; Brouwer created a temperature indicator made of soybean wax so that users can tell when the water is safe to drink.[8][9]

In 2015 she was named a community hero by the Halifax Mooseheads.[10] That year she began raising funds to patent her system,[11] and to produce the wax temperature-indicators.[12]

In 2016 Brouwer was one of eight students chosen to represent Canada at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona.[13][14] She came second in the Earth and Environmental Sciences category. As well as a $1,500 cash prize, she has had an asteroid named after her by the International Astronomical Union.

Plans were made to test the water purifier in Africa, and Brouwer has been invited to Pakistan by the Swat Relief Initiative the foundation Malala interned for to test it there.[15]

After graduating from high school Rachel Brouwer became a political science student at Dalhousie University. While there she interacted with students from Africa including Kenya and Gambia. In discussing economic development the African students made repeat references to the importance of safe household water. Due to their interest and involvement the Brouwer water purification device is being implemented in pilot projects in Kenya and Gambia.[16]

Personal

In addition to her scientific work, Brouwer plays on and soccer teams, and operates a small business selling skin-care products.[15]

References
  1. "Bedford student has asteroid named for her after international science fair win | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  2. Katy Parsons, "Rachel Brouwer's water-cleaning system to be tested in Africa". CBC News, Jun 03, 2015.
  3. "Drink This: Young Entrepreneur Making Global Impact" Archived 2015-08-26 at the Wayback Machine. One NS
  4. "This 14 year old’s water purification idea is taking her to the international science fair". Global Citizen, By Gina Darnaud on March 24, 2016
  5. David Burke, "Bedford student heads to Intel International Science and Engineering Fair". CBC News, Mar 22, 2016
  6. "Bedford student scores science gold". BEN COUSINS June 23, 2015
  7. "Bedford science whiz Rachel Brouwer now has her own asteroid". Chronicle Herald, BEN COUSINS May 24, 2016
  8. " Their future is bright: Canadian whiz kids set for International science fair". Toronto Sun, JOANNE RICHARD, Monday, April 18, 2016
  9. "Young inventor". Halifax Mag, Suzanne Rent | July 25, 2016
  10. "Thirst to make a difference: Bedford teen recognized for coming up with new way to clean water in third world". Metro News, Kristen Lipscombe Nov 05 2015
  11. "ENTREVESTOR: Teen inventor aims to improve water quality". Chronicle Herald. December 25, 2015
  12. "N.S. teen hopes to bring life-saving water system to Uganda and Pakistan". THE CHRONICLE HERALD, February 10, 2016 -
  13. "N.S. prodigy picked to represent Canada at international science fair". THE CHRONICLE HERALD, March 25, 2016
  14. "Bedford student’s water project picked for international competition". Kings County Signal, By Jonah Cole March 20, 2016
  15. "Nova Scotia teen inventor thirsting to make a difference". CBC: The National, Peter Mansbridge. Posted: May 09, 2016
  16. [https://globalnews.ca/news/8934412/bedford-n-s-womans-water-purification-system-to-launch-pilot-project-in-africa/ Global News: Bedfird, Nova Scotia woman's water purification system to launch pilot program in Africa
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