Example research essay topic: Developing Countries Drinking Water - 950 words

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Eutrophication The importance of role that lakes and wetlands play in maintaining the quality of our environment cannot be underestimated. Besides being sources of drinking water, they also have tremendous importance when it comes to providing people with hydropower and food. We cannot imagine our recreational needs being fully satisfied, without mentioning such activities as fishing and swimming. Very often, having lakes, provide people with only the recreational means, especially in developing countries. Yet, in recent years, the maintaining of our lakes and wetlands in its original state, have come under much threat, because of the process to which we refer as eutrophication. Eutrophication is accumulation of nutrients in a lake or landlocked body of water.

This occurs naturally over many years but has recently been accelerated by fertilizer runoff from farms and sewage input. Algal blooms result and their decay removes dissolved oxygen, eliminating aerobic organisms such as fish, and may cause accumulation of sulphide in the water (1). In the light of Global Warming process, its not too hard to conclude that eutrophication of natural water reservoirs will proceed at ever increased speed, which will endanger peoples survival in many countries. Even now, some African countries and India suffer the lack of drinking water. The rapid population growth only adds to this problem. The dangers related to ever-increased eutrophication processes, had led great many scientists to realize its global applications. 1990 marks the year when the Stockholm Water Foundation has established the Stockholm Water Prize, which is to be presented annually for outstanding achievements in any water-related fields.

Any person or organization are eligible to be nominated for the prize if there is a great contribution is being done on their part that led to our increased knowledge of water environment. 2004 nominees were chosen to be Erik Jorgensen, the Professor of environmental chemistry at the Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Copenhagen and William Mitch, the Professor of natural resources and environmental science at The Ohio State University, whos also director of the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park. At the Water Prize ceremony that took place in Stockholm on August 19, 2004, attended by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, both scientists were presented with 150. 000 US dollars, which theyll share and a Water Prize Crystal Sculptures. In its official statement Nominating Committee said: The Professors Sven-Erik Jorgensen and William J. Mitch are awarded the Stockholm Water Prize 2004 for their pioneering development and global dissemination of ecological models of lakes and wetlands, widely applied as effective tools in sustainable water resource management (2) Professor Jorgensen has developed a eco-system modeling software, which is to be used by United Nations Environment Program. Itll enable scientists to come up with forecast of how water related policies might affect lakes and wetlands in every particular country in the long run. Professor Mitch was recognized for his research on the ecological restoration of the Mississippi-Ohio-Missouri Basin.

He had effectively proven that constructing an engineered wetlands in the area will result in much reduced pollution of Gulf of Mexico. Both scientists cooperated closely while working on their projects and in many respects, their works can be considered as one. Mitch just as Jorgensen, are thought to be pioneers in promoting so-called sustainability concept. That corresponds to an approach while assessing wetlands resources, when every biological, chemical and physical factors are to be taken into consideration. The best way to do that is when eco-system model is being built with the help of Jorgensen's software. The eco-system approach, which both scientists consider to be only the effective way of dealing with modern environmental problems, stands for an integrated management of lakes and wetlands resources, emphasizing on human society as such that is able to integrate into an environment in a way that would prove to be beneficial for both people and an environment.

Mitch and Jorgensen have proved that the only healthy eco-systems are those that are characterized by its stability and diversity of its life forms. When such state is being accomplished, than more and more inorganic elements that our civilization causes to be found in lakes and wetlands, will be able to find itself in a totally natural environmental cycles, without causing any harm to a system as whole. Both professors are widely known as an educators and speakers. By promoting their sustainability concept, they have influenced a great many environmentalists that were able to apply this concept in the field. Professor Jorgensen participated in designing water policies in developing countries while cooperating closely with William Mitch, who was behind establishing Scientific Committee on Problems in the Environment (SCOPE). Its main purpose was to investigate the impact of ecological engineering on an environment in developing countries.

Professor Mitch traveled the world extensively; the SCOPE branches were set up in Tallinn, Estonia and Beijing, China. The result of his studies can be found in SCOPEs main publication - Ecological Engineering magazine. Erik Jorgensen and William Mitch have also gained recognition as well respected authors. William Mitch is a co-author of Wetlands university textbook, which is to influence future water specialists through introducing the concept of sustainability to them. They both worked closely on a variety of other water related projects as well, thus proving the universal properties of their theory.

They are now considered to have an authority when it comes to dealing with environmental issues. Both scientists contributed greatly to better understanding of how lakes and wetlands influence our environment as whole. Their concept of well-balanced eco-systems is going to be applied by future generations of ecologists in order to insure maintaining of our water resources in adequate state. Bibliography: 1.

Stockholm International Water Institute. web 22. 09. 04.

Research essay sample on Developing Countries Drinking Water