TEDWomen 2016
Deepika Kurup: A young scientist's quest for clean water
荻皮卡·庫羅普: 一位青年科學家的淨水之旅
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Readability: 5.3
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荻皮卡·庫羅普 14 歲時，在印度的祖父母的房子外看到孩子們喝被汙染的水。從那時起，她就致力於解決全球水源危機。她的研究從家裡的廚房開始，最終獲得了重大科學獎項。聽聽這位青年科學家，是怎樣發明成本效益高而又環保的淨水方法。
Deepika Kurup - Inventor, student scientist
Water is the basis of life, and too many people around the world suffer from waterborne illnesses. Deepika Kurup is working to change that. Full bio
Water is the basis of life, and too many people around the world suffer from waterborne illnesses. Deepika Kurup is working to change that. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
Every summer, my family and I
travel across the world,
travel across the world,
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每年夏天我和我的家人
都會橫跨世界
都會橫跨世界
00:17
3,000 miles away
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到 4800 公里之外、
00:19
to the culturally diverse
country of India.
country of India.
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文化多樣的印度旅行。
00:22
Now, India is a country infamous
for its scorching heat and humidity.
for its scorching heat and humidity.
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印度是一個因炎熱
和潮濕而出名的國家。
和潮濕而出名的國家。
00:27
For me, the only relief from this heat
is to drink plenty of water.
is to drink plenty of water.
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對我來說，唯一能讓我從
這灼熱中解脫的，就是喝水。
這灼熱中解脫的，就是喝水。
00:32
Now, while in India,
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在印度的時候，
我父母總是提醒我
只能喝燒過的水或瓶裝水，
只能喝燒過的水或瓶裝水，
00:34
my parents always remind me
to only drink boiled or bottled water,
to only drink boiled or bottled water,
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00:39
because unlike here in America,
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因為與美國這裡不同，
00:41
where I can just turn on a tap
and easily get clean, potable water,
and easily get clean, potable water,
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這裡水龍頭流的都是
乾淨的自來水，
乾淨的自來水，
00:46
in India, the water is often contaminated.
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但是在印度，水常常是被汙染的。
00:49
So my parents have to make sure
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所以我父母必須確保
我們喝的水是安全的。
00:51
that the water we drink is safe.
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00:54
However, I soon realized
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然而我很快就意識到
不是每個人都像我們一樣幸運，
00:56
that not everyone is fortunate enough
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00:59
to enjoy the clean water we did.
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能喝到乾淨的水。
01:03
Outside my grandparents' house
in the busy streets of India,
in the busy streets of India,
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我看到在我祖父母的房子外，
在印度的大街小巷裡，
01:07
I saw people standing in long lines
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人們在大太陽下排著長隊，
01:10
under the hot sun
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從水龍頭往桶裡接水。
01:11
filling buckets with water from a tap.
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01:15
I even saw children,
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我甚至看到
一些看起來和我一樣大的孩子，
01:17
who looked the same age as me,
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01:20
filling up these clear plastic bottles
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裝滿整塑膠瓶
01:22
with dirty water
from streams on the roadside.
from streams on the roadside.
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路邊小河裡的髒水。
我看到這些孩子
01:26
Watching these kids
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不得不喝
01:28
forced to drink water
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01:30
that I felt was too dirty to touch
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我連碰都覺得髒的水，
我的世界觀因此改變了。
01:33
changed my perspective on the world.
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01:37
This unacceptable social injustice
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這種令人不能接受的社會不公義
促使我想要找到
01:40
compelled me to want to find a solution
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解決世界淨水問題的方法。
01:43
to our world's clean water problem.
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我想要知道為什麼這些
孩子如此缺水，
孩子如此缺水，
01:46
I wanted to know
why these kids lacked water,
why these kids lacked water,
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01:50
a substance that is essential for life.
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它可是生命的必需品。
我發現我們正面臨著
01:53
And I learned that we are facing
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全球水源危機。
01:55
a global water crisis.
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這可能令你驚訝，
01:58
Now, this may seem surprising,
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02:00
as 75 percent of our planet
is covered in water,
is covered in water,
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因為地球表面的 75% 都是水，
02:04
but only 2.5 percent
of that is freshwater,
of that is freshwater,
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但是只有 2.5% 是淡水，
02:08
and less than one percent
of Earth's freshwater supply
of Earth's freshwater supply
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而淡水中只有不到 1%，
可以供人類使用。
02:12
is available for human consumption.
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隨著人口的增長，
02:15
With rising populations,
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02:17
industrial development
and economic growth,
and economic growth,
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工業和經濟的發展，
我們對乾淨水的需求越來越大，
02:20
our demand for clean water is increasing,
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但我們的淡水資源正被迅速地消耗。
02:23
yet our freshwater resources
are rapidly depleting.
are rapidly depleting.
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02:27
According to the
World Health Organization,
World Health Organization,
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根據世界衛生組織的數據，
世界上有 6 億 6 千萬人
02:30
660 million people in our world
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缺少淨水資源。
02:34
lack access to a clean water source.
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缺少淨水資源是發展中國家
02:37
Lack of access to clean water
is a leading cause of death
is a leading cause of death
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五歲以下兒童死亡的主要原因。
02:41
in children under the age of five
in developing countries,
in developing countries,
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02:44
and UNICEF estimates that 3,000 children
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聯合國兒童基金會估計
每天有 3000 名兒童死於
與水有關的疾病。
與水有關的疾病。
02:47
die every day from
a water-related disease.
a water-related disease.
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所以國中二年級的夏天
我回家的時候，
我回家的時候，
02:52
So after returning home
one summer in eighth grade,
one summer in eighth grade,
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02:55
I decided that I wanted
to combine my passion
to combine my passion
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我決定要把
我對解決全球水源危機的熱情，
02:58
for solving the global water crisis
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03:00
with my interest in science.
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與我對科學的興趣結合起來。
03:03
So I decided that the best thing to do
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於是我決定
把我的車庫改裝成實驗室。
03:05
would be to convert my garage
into a laboratory.
into a laboratory.
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（笑聲）
03:11
(Laughter)
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其實最開始我把家裡
廚房改成了實驗室，
廚房改成了實驗室，
03:13
Actually, at first I converted
my kitchen into a laboratory,
my kitchen into a laboratory,
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03:17
but my parents didn't really approve
and kicked me out.
and kicked me out.
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但我父母並不贊成，把我趕出去了。
03:21
I also read a lot of journal papers
on water-related research,
on water-related research,
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我還讀了許多
關於水研究的學術論文，
關於水研究的學術論文，
我了解到現在在發展中國家，
03:25
and I learned that currently
in developing countries,
in developing countries,
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一種叫太陽能消毒，
03:28
something called solar disinfection,
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03:31
or SODIS, is used to purify water.
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又叫陽光殺菌法的方法
被用來淨化水。
被用來淨化水。
陽光殺菌法就是把裝著汙水的塑料瓶
03:35
In SODIS, clear plastic bottles
are filled with contaminated water
are filled with contaminated water
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03:39
and then exposed to sunlight
for six to eight hours.
for six to eight hours.
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放在陽光下曬 6 到 8 小時。
03:43
The UV radiation from the sun
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太陽的紫外線
能夠破壞有害病原體的 DNA，
03:45
destroys the DNA
of these harmful pathogens
of these harmful pathogens
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從而淨水。
03:49
and decontaminates the water.
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03:51
Now, while SODIS is really easy to use
and energy-efficient,
and energy-efficient,
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儘管陽光殺菌法很好用，
03:55
as it only uses solar energy,
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又因僅僅利用太陽能而節省能源，
這方法實在太慢了，
03:57
it's really slow,
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03:59
as it can take up to two days
when it's cloudy.
when it's cloudy.
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因為陰天的時候就要花兩天，
所以為了加快陽光消毒法的進程，
04:02
So in order to make
the SODIS process faster,
the SODIS process faster,
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04:06
this new method called photocatalysis
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一項名為光催化法的技術
04:09
has recently been used.
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最近開始興起。
04:11
So what exactly is this photocatalysis?
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光催化法到底是什麼呢？
我來解釋一下：
04:14
Let's break it down:
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04:15
"photo" means from the sun,
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「光」指從太陽來，
催化劑是一種能使反應加速的物質。
04:17
and a catalyst is something
that speeds up a reaction.
that speeds up a reaction.
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所以光催化法
04:21
So what photocatalysis is doing
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04:23
is it's just speeding up
this solar disinfection process.
this solar disinfection process.
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就是加速太陽能消毒的過程。
04:27
When sunlight comes in
and strikes a photocatalyst,
and strikes a photocatalyst,
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當陽光照射到光催化劑，
04:30
like TiO2, or titanium dioxide,
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例如氧化鈦，或二氧化鈦，
04:34
it creates these
really reactive oxygen species,
really reactive oxygen species,
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會產生活性很強的氧化物，
比如超氧化物、過氧化氫和羥基。
04:37
like superoxides, hydrogen peroxide
and hydroxyl radicals.
and hydroxyl radicals.
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這些活性氧類
04:42
These reactive oxygen species
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04:44
are able to remove bacteria and organics
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可以消滅細菌和有機物
以及很多飲用水中的汙染物。
04:47
and a whole lot of contaminants
from drinking water.
from drinking water.
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04:51
But unfortunately,
there are several disadvantages
there are several disadvantages
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但不幸的是，
目前光催化太陽能消毒法
目前光催化太陽能消毒法
有一些缺陷。
04:55
to the way photocatalytic SODIS
is currently deployed.
is currently deployed.
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比方說，現在大家的做法是，
04:59
See, what they do is they take
the clear plastic bottles
the clear plastic bottles
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把乾淨塑膠瓶的內壁塗上光催化劑。
05:02
and they coat the inside
with this photocatalytic coating.
with this photocatalytic coating.
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但是像二氧化鈦一類的光催化劑，
05:07
But photocatalysts like titanium dioxide
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其實常被用於防曬霜上
05:10
are actually commonly used in sunscreens
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以抵擋紫外線。
05:13
to block UV radiation.
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05:15
So when they're coated
on the inside of these bottles,
on the inside of these bottles,
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所以當瓶子的內壁被塗滿二氧化鈦，
它們實際上就阻擋了一些紫外線，
05:18
they're actually blocking
some of the UV radiation
some of the UV radiation
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05:21
and diminishing the efficiency
of the process.
of the process.
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而淨水的效率也就變低了。
05:24
Also, these photocatalytic coatings
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並且這些光催化劑塗層
05:26
are not tightly bound
to the plastic bottle,
to the plastic bottle,
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不是與塑膠瓶密不可分，
05:29
which means they wash off,
and people end up drinking the catalyst.
and people end up drinking the catalyst.
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這就意味著它們會被洗掉，
而人們會喝掉一些催化劑。
而人們會喝掉一些催化劑。
儘管二氧化鈦對人體無害，
05:34
While TiO2 is safe and inert,
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05:37
it's really inefficient
if you keep drinking the catalyst,
if you keep drinking the catalyst,
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這還是會導致淨水效率低下，
因為催化劑被喝掉後，
總是需要補充。
總是需要補充。
05:39
because then you have
to continue to replenish it,
to continue to replenish it,
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05:42
even after a few uses.
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05:44
So my goal was
to overcome the disadvantages
to overcome the disadvantages
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因此我的目標就是克服
目前淨水方法的缺陷，
05:47
of these current treatment methods
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05:49
and create a safe, sustainable,
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發明一種安全、永續、
成本效益高、環保的淨水方法。
05:52
cost-effective and eco-friendly
method of purifying water.
method of purifying water.
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本來只是我國中二年級科展計畫，
05:57
What started off as an eighth grade
science fair project
science fair project
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06:00
is now my photocatalytic composite
for water purification.
for water purification.
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現在變成我水源淨化的
光催化複合配方。
光催化複合配方。
06:05
The composite combines
titanium dioxide with cement.
titanium dioxide with cement.
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這個複合物包含二氧化鈦和水泥。
水泥使化合物可以塑形，
06:09
The cement-like composite can be formed
into several different shapes,
into several different shapes,
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06:13
which results in an extremely
versatile range of deployment methods.
versatile range of deployment methods.
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這就使運用方法很靈活。
06:18
For example, you could create a rod
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例如，可以做成桿狀，
很容易放在瓶子裡供個人使用，
06:20
that can easily be placed
inside water bottles for individual use
inside water bottles for individual use
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或者用多孔過濾網為家庭濾水。
06:24
or you could create a porous filter
that can filter water for families.
that can filter water for families.
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你甚至可以把水箱內壁塗上催化劑，
06:29
You can even coat the inside
of an existing water tank
of an existing water tank
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在較長的時間內
06:33
to purify larger amounts of water
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06:35
for communities
over a longer period of time.
over a longer period of time.
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為整個社區淨化大量水。
06:39
Now, over the course of this,
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在整個過程中，
我的工作並不簡單。
06:41
my journey hasn't really been easy.
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06:44
You know, I didn't have access
to a sophisticated laboratory.
to a sophisticated laboratory.
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我沒有精密的實驗室，
06:47
I was 14 years old when I started,
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我當時只有 14 歲，
但我沒有讓年齡成為
06:51
but I didn't let my age deter me
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我的興趣和科研追求的阻力。
06:53
in my interest
in pursuing scientific research
in pursuing scientific research
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我希望解決全球水資源危機。
06:56
and wanting to solve
the global water crisis.
the global water crisis.
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06:59
See, water isn't
just the universal solvent.
just the universal solvent.
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水不只是通用的溶劑，
水是通用的人權。
07:03
Water is a universal human right.
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正因如此，
07:07
And for that reason,
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我繼續著 2012 年科展項目，
07:08
I'm continuing to work
on this science fair project from 2012
on this science fair project from 2012
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07:12
to bring it from the laboratory
into the real world.
into the real world.
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把它們從實驗室帶入現實世界。
07:15
And this summer,
I founded Catalyst for World Water,
I founded Catalyst for World Water,
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這個夏天，我成立了
「世界水的催化劑」，
「世界水的催化劑」，
一個致力於催化全球水源危機
解決方案的社會企業。
解決方案的社會企業。
07:19
a social enterprise aimed at catalyzing
solutions to the global water crisis.
solutions to the global water crisis.
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（掌聲）
07:25
(Applause)
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一滴水不能做什麼，
07:32
Alone, a single drop of water
can't do much,
can't do much,
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07:36
but when many drops come together,
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但當許多滴水匯於一處，
07:38
they can sustain life on our planet.
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就可以供養地球上的生命。
07:42
Just as water drops
come together to form oceans,
come together to form oceans,
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就像水滴匯成大海，
07:45
I believe that we all must come together
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我相信我們必須合力
07:48
when tackling this global problem.
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來解決這個全球問題。
謝謝。
07:51
Thank you.
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（掌聲）
07:52
(Applause)
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謝謝。
07:55
Thank you.
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（掌聲）
07:57
(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Deepika Kurup - Inventor, student scientistWater is the basis of life, and too many people around the world suffer from waterborne illnesses. Deepika Kurup is working to change that.
Why you should listen
Deepika Kurup is a scientist, speaker, social entrepreneur and student at Harvard University. She has been passionate about solving the global water crisis ever since she was in middle school. After witnessing children in India drinking dirty water, Kurup developed a water purification system that harnesses solar energy to remove contaminants from water.
Recognized as "America’s Top Young Scientist" in 2012, Kurup won the grand prize in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. In 2014 she was honored with the "United States President's Environmental Youth Award" and represented the United States in Stockholm, Sweden at the international Stockholm Junior Water Prize. Most recently Kurup was named one of the Forbes' "30 Under 30: Energy" and was the National Geographic Explorer Award Winner in the 2015 Google Science Fair. She attended the 2016 (and 2013) White House Science Fair. Currently she is CEO and founder Catalyst for World Water, a social enterprise aimed at deploying the technology she developed in water-scarce areas.
Along with research, Kurup is passionate about STEM education, and she feels that STEM education has the power to revolutionize the world. In her free time, she enjoys giving talks and writing articles to encourage students all around the world to pursue science, technology, engineering and math, and to increase awareness of the global water crisis. She has been invited to speak at schools, international conferences and the United Nations.
Deepika Kurup | Speaker | TED.com