LONDON, November 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Winning Projects Highlighted in Water Research

The Reed Elsevier Environmental Challenge was launched today, inviting submissions of innovative ideas to ensure safe water and improved sanitation for communities where access is at risk. The winning project will receive a prize of $50,000, with a $25,000 second place prize.

The Reed Elsevier Environmental Challenge contributes to the Water for Life Decade, established by the UN General Assembly, running between 2005 and 2015, in support of the Millennium Development Goal to reduce by half the number of people without access to safe drinking water and to stop unsustainable exploitation of water resources. According to the World Health Organisation, nearly 900 million people in the world are deprived of good drinking water, while over 2.6 billion people do not have improved sanitation facilities.  Poor access to safe water and sanitation contributes to health crises in many developing countries, and increasingly leads to violent conflict.

Relevant Reed Elsevier products such as Water Research, the journal of the International Water Association, will be made available to applicants to help prepare their competition entry.  The winning entries will be highlighted in Water Research. All entries should focus on increasing access to safe water and/or improved sanitation where it is presently at risk and demonstrate that: projects are replicable, scalable and sustainable; set a high benchmark for innovation; have practical applicability; address non-discrimination/equity of access; involve and impact a range of stakeholders; and have local/community-level engagement

Youngsuk (Y.S) Chi, chairman of the Elsevier Management Committee and head of government affairs for Reed Elsevier said: "The Environmental Challenge draws attention to a critical problem facing our world - access to water.  By leveraging our extensive networks and environmental publishing expertise, Reed Elsevier is uniquely placed to facilitate the exchange and dissemination of information about improving access to safe and sustainable water. Our aim is to highlight projects that really can make a difference."

To learn more about The Environmental Challenge, please visit

http://www.reedelsevier.com/corporateresponsibility/environmental-challenge

About Reed Elsevier Group plc

Reed Elsevier Group plc is a world leading publisher and information provider targeting the science and medical, legal, risk management, and business to business sectors. We provide high value and flexible information solutions to professional users. The group employs more than 30,000 people, including more than 16,000 in North America.

Reed Elsevier reported revenues for 2010 of £6,055m/€7,084m. Reed Elsevier Group plc is owned equally by two parent companies, Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV; the combined market capitalisation of the two parent companies is approximately £11bn/€13bn. Their shares are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RUK and ENL.

Media Contact

Sarah Dyson
sarah.dyson@reedelsevier.com
+44-207-166-5612

SOURCE Reed Elsevier Group plc