Rolex recognizes five super achievers

Five people, cited for "improving human knowledge and well-being," were awarded the Rolex Award for Enterprise last week in New York. A panel of scientists, educators, and journalists reviewed more than 2,000 applicants from 124 countries for the biennial award. Receiving watches and $75,000 were:

Mohammed Bah Abba, a teacher in Nigeria, who invented an earthenware 'refrigerator' that preserves food without using electricity.

Laurent Pordi, a French anthropologist instrumental in applying ancient Tibetan medicine to health problems in northern India.

David Schweidenback, an American ex-Peace Corps volunteer who has been 'recycling' old American bicycles by sending them to developing countries.

Elizabeth Nicholls, a Canadian-American paleontologist now working in British Columbia to extract the largest fossil of a marine reptile (an ichthyosaur) ever found.

Maria Eliza Manteca Onate (pictured above), an Ecuadorian working to introduce sustainable farming techniques in her country.

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