Student-made invention tackles river pollution
14 April 2025
European rivers are more toxic than you could think – the water often contains antibiotics and bacteria that have learned to resist them. Antimicrobial resistance is a serious issue which could lead to ten million deaths annually by 2050.
Less than 40% of Europe's surface water – such as rivers and lakes – is considered healthy. Scientists have been racking their brains over developing a solution to this problem. Now, two high school students have cracked the mystery – and won the prestigious European Earth Prize for their breakthrough.
Antibiotics get into water mainly from hospitals and farms. The device PURA created in collaboration between Tomáš Čermák from Czechia and Anna Podmanická from Slovakia has a way to clean it.
How? The process includes the targeting of harmful pollutants and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the water using cold plasma. Then, photocatalysis breaks down these chemicals using sunlight.
 | Tamara Kanuchova and Eli Volencová Tomáš first started experimenting with cold plasma during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he tried to use the technology to clean used facemasks. Later, he realised the potential went far beyond the disinfection of respirators. His and Anna's invention was awarded the first prize, winning them about €10,500. This amount of money should allow them to develop the idea further. Now, they are in the global round of the competition. The public can vote until Earth Day (22 April), which will determine the next Global Earth Prize. |
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