Gitanjali Rao is an Indian-American young scientist, inventor, author, and community volunteer who was named Time magazine’s “Kid of the Year” on December 4, 2020. She received the award for her contributions to the field of science. Using her skills and knowledge, she proactively fights issues ranging from contaminated drinking water to cyberbullying.
Wiki/Biography
Gitanjali Rao was born on Saturday, November 15, 2005 (15 years old in 2020) in Lone Tree, Colorado, United States. Her star sign is Scorpio. Gitanjali’s parents noticed her interest in science when she was in second or third grade. She wanted to use science and technology to bring about change in society. At the age of 10, she told her parents that she wanted to conduct research on carbon nanotube sensor technology at the Denver Water Quality Research Laboratory. Gitanjali Rao attends STEM Highlands Ranch High School in Colorado. She studied STEM courses (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in school and is an active STEM promoter.
appearance
Eye color: Black
Hair color: Black
family
Parents and siblings
Gitanjali Rao’s father’s name is Ram Rao and mother’s name is Bharathi Rao. She also has a younger brother Anu Rao.
Gitanjali Rao’s mother Bharathi Rao and brother Anu Rao
Profession
author
Gitanjali Rao is a writer who published a self-illustrated book in 2015 titled “Baby Brother Wonders”.
Research
In 2017, Gitanjali decided to develop a device that would help detect lead levels in water. Gitanjali began working on the device with the help of a research scientist at 3M. She developed a device with a 9-volt battery, a lead sensing unit, a processor, and a Bluetooth extension. She named the device “Tethys.” In 2017, Gitanjali’s prototype successfully detected lead levels in water, and she won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge and a $25,000 cash prize for her invention. In the second half of 2017, she worked with the Denver Water Department to prepare an improved prototype for the invention. Gitanjali has spoken at TEDx three times, and on August 10, 2018, she appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to present her invention “Tethys” on national television. According to Gitanjali, her goal is to attend MIT Cambridge to study genetics and epidemiology. She is also a freelance developer who created an app and Google Chrome extension called “Kindly” that checks content in real time for cyberbullying content.
Gitanjali Rao and STEM Curriculum Coordinator
The Miracle of My Baby Brother by Gitanjali Rao
Awards and Honors
- In 2017, Gitanjali won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge and received a $25,000 prize.
Gitanjali Rao wins 2017 Young Scientist Challenge Award
- In 2018, Gitanjali received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator’s Youth Award for the Environment.
- In May 2019, she won the highest “Health” pillar award in the TCS Ignite Innovation Student Challenge.
- On December 4, 2020, Gitanjali Rao was named the first “Child of the Year” by Time magazine.
Introducing the first ever Child of the Year, Gitanjali Rao https://t.co/Hvgu3GLoNs pic.twitter.com/4zORbRiGMU
—TIME Magazine (@TIME) December 3, 2020
Facts/Trivia
- Gitanjali was selected as one of five finalists from 5,000 American children aged 8 to 16. The five finalists were selected as “Child of the Year” by Time magazine, and Gitanjali won the competition and became the first “Child of the Year” in history. She appeared on the cover of Time magazine and was interviewed by Hollywood actress and social activist Angelina Jolie.
- Gitanjali was awarded the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist” in 2017 for her invention “Tethys”. In 2019, she was also listed in the “30 Under 30” list of Forbes.
Gitanjali Rao working on a prototype of her invention, Tethys.
- In an interview with Angelina Jolie, Gitanjali spoke about how the media traditionally portrays older white men as scientists in TV shows or advertisements. She hopes to change this traditional societal perception and bring about a change. In a Zoom video call with Angelina Jolie, Gitanjali told the actress that she wants to spread the message that if she could become a scientist at such a young age, then anyone can do it.
Angelina Jolie interviews Geetanjali Rao in Time Magazine feature
- Gitanjali won the top “Health” pillar award in the TCS Ignite Innovation Student Challenge in May 2019 for developing a tool that helps diagnose prescription opioid addiction.
- When she was awarded the title of ‘Child of the Year’ by Time magazine, congratulations poured in from people across the globe including chef Vikas Khanna, Anand Mahindra of Mahindra & Mahindra, Shah Rukh Khan and many more.
Time magazine named 15-year-old scientist and inventor Gitanjali Rao its first-ever Child of the Year. That’s awesome. Congratulations to Gitanjali and her parents, Bharathi and Ram Rao. @timeforkids @time @KeithGrossman pic.twitter.com/Th0sBYsY5F
— Vikas Khanna (@TheVikasKhanna) December 3, 2020
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education