On 3 June 2014, Mr. Khoo Teng Chey, Executive Director of the Singapore Centre for Liveable Cities and Mr. Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of the the city of Rotterdam, jointly released two giant floating fish during the Dutch water sector network reception at the Singapore International Water Week, marking the official start of the third edition of the Singapore-Netherlands Water Challenge.
To the excitement of the more than one hundred guests, the fish appeared to be represent exactly the spirit that this year’s challenge with the theme Urban Water Rebels is looking to promote as they flew uncontrollably across the exhibition hall!
In his speech, Mr. Khoo Teng Chye underlined the importance of international cooperation in addressing global water challenges and the fruitful relationship between the water sectors of Singapore and the Netherlands. As a strong supporter of the Singapore-Netherlands Water Challenge since the very beginning, Mr. Khoo praised the initiative to actively involve young people.
Under the theme Urban Water Rebels, this third edition of the competition is challenging students and young professionals from around the world to express their personal, independent vision on urban water management in the 21st century. In doing so, they are free to choose what particular dimensions of urban water management they wish to focus on and how they want to express this, for example through a paper, a design drawing, an infographic, an app, etc.
More than 50 participants from 12 countries already registered to join the program over the coming months. In November 2014, the top contenders will be invited to present their vision during the Grand Final in Singapore.
The Singapore-Netherlands Water Challenge is jointly led by PUB Singapore, NUSDeltares, Singapore Centre for Liveable Cities, DutchCham and the Netherlands Embassy. The Award is sponsored by Van Oord, Surbana, Fugro, Hydronav, Boskalis, Royal HaskoningDHV and YJP Surveyors.
