Stephen Tinnin is from the United States, and in 1997 won the first international competition for the SJWP. His project found impaired reproductive fertilization and development from various pesticides, and was the first to document artificial initiation of the acrosome reaction and parthenogenesis from these chemicals. After studying biology and environmental science at Duke University and North Carolina Central University, Stephen dedicated himself to caretaking for family members, first for three ailing grandparents, then raising two children as a stay-at-home parent. Since then, he has worked in sustainable agriculture and innovative recycling services. Stephen maintains a strong commitment to family, raising his children, and working directly toward improving environmental sustainability in his community. He currently resides in Dallas, Texas.
From where comes your interest in water?I had an amazing biology and environmental science teacher named Betty Henderson in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Her zest, wit, knowledge, and passion for education spurred me to study environmental systems. Water is the key foundational element for life on Earth, and critical for understanding the wonder of life.
This is what I think is one of the solutions for a sustainable future:Individual actions toward sustainability are noble, but will not be enough to alter the unfolding environmental catastrophe humans are responsible for. Ultimately, public education is critical for voters to prioritize the election of representatives who will enact regional and global initiatives that steer the course of our planet's future.
