IDCE alumnus Hao Xin (GISDE ’11, ES&P ’10) recently garnered China’s National Water Conservation Person of the Year award for his work on the Qiantang River in Hangzhou, China. Xin is the cofounder and vice president of Green Zhejiang, an eco-culture association based in Hangzhou.  He is also the waterkeeper and spokesperson for Qiantang River Waterkeeper, part of Waterkeeper Alliance’s 200 organizations on six continents that, according to its website, defend their communities “against anyone who threatens their right to clean water—from law-breaking polluters to unresponsive government agencies.”

On December 4, Xin organized a drive that drew 500 volunteers and children to Hangzhou to paint the Qiantang River seawall. At 600-meters long, the painted seawall—named “We are Qiantang Riverkeepers!”—might be the longest in the world, says Xin. View photos from the event.