Gitanjali Rao (inventor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gitanjali Rao
Gitanjali Rao in 2020
Born	2005 (age 19–20) Ohio, U.S.
Alma mater	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (currently enrolled)
Known for	Water lead-level measuring device (2018)
Awards	Time's 2020 Kid of the Year Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge (2017)

Gitanjali Rao is an American inventor, author, and public speaker. She is known for using science and technology to solve real-world problems. She is also a student and encourages other young people to get involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

In 2017, Rao won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. She has also been listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for her amazing inventions. In 2020, Time magazine named her their first-ever "Kid of the Year" for her work.

Early Life and Education

Gitanjali Rao was born in Ohio in 2005. She later moved to Lone Tree, Colorado, where she attended STEM School Highlands Ranch. Her parents, Bharathi and Ram Rao, are from India. Besides science, Gitanjali also enjoys Indian classical music and dancing.

From a young age, Rao was interested in science. She has said she wants to study genetics and epidemiology (the study of how diseases spread). She is currently a student at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Amazing Inventions

Rao began inventing to help solve problems she saw in the world. Her uncle gave her a science kit when she was four, which sparked her interest.

Tethys: A Device to Find Lead in Water

When Rao was 10, she learned about the Flint water crisis, where the city's water was contaminated with lead. She wanted to create a fast and easy way for people to test their own water.

This led her to invent Tethys. It is a small device that uses special materials called carbon nanotubes to detect lead. The device connects to a smartphone app using Bluetooth to show the results.

For this invention, she won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge in 2017 and was awarded $25,000. She worked with scientists from the company 3M to develop her idea.

Epione: A Tool for Health

In 2019, Rao created a tool called Epione. It is designed to help doctors identify patients who might be at risk from certain strong pain medications. The device uses genetic information to spot potential problems early.

Kindly: An App to Stop Cyberbullying

Rao also developed an app called Kindly. It uses artificial intelligence to detect online bullying before it gets serious. The app can identify hurtful words or phrases in messages and suggest changes. Rao has partnered with UNICEF to make this helpful service available to people around the world.

Sharing Her Passion for STEM

Gitanjali Rao loves to share her excitement for science and inventing with others. She has given over 200 talks and workshops in more than 40 countries. She is a three-time TEDx speaker.

She runs special workshops for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. These workshops teach a five-step problem-solving method. She partners with schools, museums, and other groups to reach as many young people as possible.

Rao has written two books to help other young inventors.

• A Young Inventor's Guide to STEM (2021)
• A Young Innovator's Guide to Planning For Success (2024)

In 2023, Rao earned her pilot's license. During the summer of 2024, she worked at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, where she helped develop new types of vaccines.

Awards and Honors

Gitanjali Rao has received many awards for her work.

• 2017: Won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge.
• 2018: Received the President's Environmental Youth Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
• 2019: Named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for science.
• 2020: Named the first-ever "Kid of the Year" by Time.
• 2021: Honored as a Young Activist at a summit at the United Nations in Geneva.

See also

In Spanish: Gitanjali Rao para niños