In recognition of the importance of continuing to attract young scientists and engineers into the field of mine water management, the WISA Mine Water Division will be awarding a cash prize to the best technical paper written and presented by a bona fide student. Students from around the world are invited to participate.

The cash prize of R15000 will be awarded to a full-time bona-fide student, based on an assessment of the quality of the written paper and the oral presentation, as judged by a panel of judges drawn from the WISA Mine Water Division Management Committee. Presenters who believe that they are eligible for consideration for this award will be required to confirm their status as a full-time bona-fide student when they submit their written papers. Presenters will be requested to provide the Committee with a properly authorised letter of confirmation of their full-time student status from the academic institution where they are studying, together with contact details of the academic institution in order that the Organising Committee can follow up and confirm if they require to do so.

The award will be presented at the Conference dinner on 21 October and the Organising Committee will therefore ensure that all papers deemed eligible for the award are presented on 20 and 21 October and not on the last day of the Conference. It is hoped that this award will encourage and motivate young students and researchers from around the world to write and present an excellent paper on the technical topic of their choice.