Rachel Brouwer (born ) 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.
Early life and education
Rachel Brouwer was a student at Bedford Academy when she invented her device. After graduation from Bedford Academy, 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. The next year she demonstrated it at the Halifax Science Expo. Later, Brouwer entered her invention in the
Canada-Wide Science Fair
Started in 1962, the Canadian-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) is an annual science fair in Canada coordinated by Youth Science Canada. Finalists qualify from approximately 25,000 competitors at over 100 Youth Science Canada-affiliated regional science fa ...
, and won a gold medal.
Brouwer's water pasteurizer is made of
ABS pipe,
plastic water bottles,
cotton and
charcoal
Charcoal is a lightweight black carbon residue produced by strongly heating wood (or other animal and plant materials) in minimal oxygen to remove all water and volatile constituents. In the traditional version of this pyrolysis process, cal ...
. 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.
In 2015 she was named a community hero by the
Halifax Mooseheads. That year she began raising funds to patent her system, and to produce the wax temperature-indicators.
In 2016 Brouwer was one of eight students chosen to represent Canada at the
International Science and Engineering Fair The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is an annual science fair in the United States. It is owned and administered by the Society for Science, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. Each May, more tha ...
in
Phoenix, Arizona. 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.
["Nova Scotia teen inventor thirsting to make a difference"]
''CBC: The National'', Peter Mansbridge. Posted: May 09, 2016
After graduating from high school Rachel Brouwer became a political science student at
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the fou ...
. 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.
Personal
In addition to her scientific work, Brouwer plays on soccer teams and operates a small business selling skin-care products.
References
External links
2022 Project WebsiteBedford AcademyCWSF 2015 Project details
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brouwer, Rachel
Canadian inventors
People from Bedford, Nova Scotia
2000s births
Living people
20th-century Canadian inventors
20th-century Canadian women scientists