"Deaths in the channels. The work "The black consequence of green energy" wins the 13th edition of the CAF-Elhuyar awards. edition edition edition edition edition edition

2007/03/02 Carton Virto, Eider - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Elhuyarren berriak
• Sariak

XIII. Winners of the CAF-Elhuyar Awards. On the left, Ibon Cancio, Goretti Goikoetxeaundia, Miguel Mari Elosegi and Arantzazu Villanueva

Poly photographers

Miguel Mari Elosegi Irurtia, biologist Tolosarra, has been awarded the XIII edition of the CAF-Elhuyar awards for his article on water transport channels to hydroelectric power stations. First prize of the edition. In fact, the article analyzes one of the harmful effects of the mini-hydroelectric power plants, little known, which are the animals that die drowned in the channels that lead the water to the power plants. In his work, Elosegi recalls that in Euskal Herria we have hundreds of kilometers of water courses of this type, and analyzes the mortality in these channels. In addition, it proposes solutions to solve the problem.

The second prize went to work entitled "Competition between sexes and besugo". The author is the biologist Bakiotarra Ibon Cancio Uriarte. Ibon Cancio won the third prize in the last edition of the CAF-Elhuyar awards. The author, from the famous fish Nemo, talks about hermaphroditic fish, which in turn are males and females. In the article highlights that the presence of hermaphrodites is not an exception in the world of fish, but many species of fish have that sexual strategy, among them the besugo that we so appreciate the Basques. Ibon Cancio has also analysed what we can learn and use from this strategy.

The third prize went to Arantzazu Villanueva Larre, a telecommunications engineer, thanks to an article on technologies to follow the eye. "What are you looking at? The title of the work is "Looking into the eyes". The Pamplona engineer talks about the development of monitoring systems of the look in the article and applications that few years ago seemed inaccessible. He has made a review of the trajectory of these technologies that will supposedly have a great future and explained how the monitoring systems of the look work.

The biologist Miguel Mari Elosegi has received the first prize for his research on dead animals in the channels.

Poly photographers

Finally, the special prize for young people under 25 has been for the article "Waterproof sheet: bike berria". Article written by the chemist Goretti Goikoetxeaundia Garmendia de Lizartza. The author has researched at the University of the Basque Country on the possibility of using greenhouse plastics for the manufacture of waterproof sheets, collecting in his article the details of the study. The waterproof sheets are formed by asphalt bitumen and polymers used in construction: swimming pools, tennis courts, tunnels, artificial reservoirs... Thus, Goikoetxeaundia has investigated whether plastics from greenhouses are a polymer of plates and the result has been positive. According to the author, this could give a good solution to the tens of thousands of tons of plastic waste annually generated in greenhouses.

In total €2,100 will be distributed in prizes and each of the winners will receive a sculpture by Imanol Andonegi. In addition, the winning articles will be published in the magazine Elhuyar Zientzia eta Teknika of the month of April, in a specific dossier on this edition of the contest.

Jury of the Jury

The jury met on 27 January at the headquarters of the Elhuyar Foundation to assess the work and resolution of the awards. Jury members have extensive experience in different fields of science:

• Cristina Alberdi, head of marketing and communication of Inasmet.
• Mikel Álvarez, doctor and general director of the Cruces Hospital.
• Koldo Nuñez, Ph.D. in Geology, Director of the Engineering School of IMH and Scientific Disseminator.
• Joseba Etxebarria, engineer and professor at Mondragon Unibertsitatea.