Gitanjali Rao is an Indian American young scientist, inventor, author and community volunteer who was chosen as ‘Kid of the Year’ by Time magazine on 4 December 2020. He was given this award for his contribution in the field of science. With the help of the technology available to them and their knowledge, they took initiatives to fight issues ranging from drinking water pollution to cyberbullying.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Geetanjali Rao was born on Saturday, November 15, 2005 (age 15 years; as in 2020) in Lone Tree, Colorado, United States. His zodiac 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 social change in the society. At the age of 10, she told her parents she wanted to conduct research at the Denver Water Quality Research Lab on carbon nanotube sensor technology. Gitanjali Rao attended STEM Highlands Ranch High School in Colorado. She studied STEM courses (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in school, and is an active STEM promoter.
Physical Appearance
Eye colour: black
Hair Color: Black
Family
parents and siblings
Geetanjali Rao’s father’s name is Ram Rao and mother’s name is Bharati Rao. He has a younger brother, Anu Rao.
Gitanjali Rao’s mother, Bharati Rao and brother, Anu Rao
livelihood
Author
Geetanjali Rao is an author and published a self-illustrated book titled “Baby Brother Wonders” in the year 2015.
research work
In 2017, Gitanjali decided to work on developing a device that would help detect the amount of lead present in water. Gitanjali started working on the device with the help of a research scientist from 3M. They developed a device consisting of a 9-volt battery, a lead sensing unit, a processor, and a Bluetooth extension. He named this instrument ‘Tethys’. In 2017, Gitanjali’s prototype was successful in detecting lead content in water and won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge and a $25,000 cash prize for the invention. Later in 2017, he collaborated with the Denver Water Facility and designed an improved prototype for the invention. Gitanjali is a three-time TEDx speaker, and on August 10, 2018, she appeared on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jimmy Fallon, where she demonstrated her invention ‘Tethys’ on national television. According to Gitanjali, her goal is to study genetics and epidemiology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. She also works as a self-employed developer, and has developed ‘Kindly’, an app and Google Chrome extension that facilitates real-time checking of content to find any cyber-bullying material .
Gitanjali Rao with STEM Curriculum Coordinator
Baby Brother Wonders book by Gitanjali Rao
Awards and Honors
- In 2017, Gitanjali won the ‘Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge’ and was awarded a prize of $25,000.
Gitanjali Rao awarded the Young Scientist Challenge, 2017 award
- In 2018, Gitanjali was awarded the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s President’s Environmental Youth Award.
- In May 2019, he was awarded the top ‘Health’ pillar award for the TCS Ignite Innovation Student Challenge.
- Geetanjali Rao was chosen ‘Kid of the Year’ for the first time by Time Magazine on December 4, 2020.
Introducing Geetanjali Rao, the first Kid of the Year https://t.co/Hvgu3GLoNs pic.twitter.com/4zORbRiGMU
– TIME (@TIME) 3 December 2020
Facts/General Knowledge
- Gitanjali was selected among five finalists out of 5,000 American children aged 8 to 16 years. These five finalists were selected by Time magazine for the title ‘Kid of the Year’, and Geetanjali won the competition and became the first. -Once ‘Kid of the Year.’ She was featured on the cover of Time magazine and was interviewed by Hollywood actress and activist Angelina Jolie for the magazine’s feature.
- Gitanjali won the title of ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’ in 2017 for her invention ‘Tethys’. In 2019, she also appeared on Forbes’ “30 under 30” list.
Gitanjali Rao is working on the prototype of her invention Tethys
- During her interview with Angelina Jolie, Gitanjali talked about how traditionally the media had shown an older, usually white man as a scientist in TV shows or during commercials. She wanted to bring about a change in this traditional outlook of the society. In a conversation with Angelina Jolie over a Zoom video call, Geetanjali told the actress that she wants to spread the message that if she can achieve the feat of becoming a scientist at such a young age, then anyone can do the same.
Angelina Jolie interviews Gitanjali Rao for her Time magazine feature
- Gitanjali was awarded the top “Health” pillar award in the TCS Ignite Innovation Student Challenge in May 2019 for developing a tool that helped diagnose prescription opioid addiction.
- On receiving the title of ‘Kid of the Year’ from Time Magazine, people from all over the world came forward to congratulate him, which included Chef Vikas Khanna, Anand Mahindra of Mahindra & Mahindra, Shahrukh Khan etc.
Time magazine has chosen 15-year-old scientist and inventor Gitanjali Rao as its first Kid of the Year. this is wonderful. Congratulations to Geetanjali and her parents Bharati and Ram Rao. @timeforkids @Time @Keith Grossman pic.twitter.com/Th0sBYsY5F
– Vikas Khanna (@TheVikasKhanna) 3 December 2020
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn