Gitanjali Rao (inventor): Difference between revisions
Undid revision 1235291059 by 132.183.13.26 (talk): the activism and writing started while Rao was a child |
|||
(57 intermediate revisions by 38 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|American inventor (born 2005)}} |
{{Short description|American inventor (born 2005)}} |
||
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}} |
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}} |
||
{{Tone|date=September 2021}} |
|||
{{Infobox scientist |
{{Infobox scientist |
||
| honorific_prefix = |
| honorific_prefix = |
||
Line 11: | Line 10: | ||
| alt = |
| alt = |
||
| caption = |
| caption = |
||
| birth_date = |
| birth_date = 2005 (age {{age in years|2005}}) |
||
| birth_place = [[ |
| birth_place = [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]], Ohio |
||
| fields = |
| fields = |
||
| workplaces = |
| workplaces = |
||
| patrons = |
| patrons = |
||
| education = |
| education = |
||
| alma_mater = |
| alma_mater = [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (currently enrolled) |
||
| thesis_title = <!--(or | thesis1_title = and | thesis2_title = )--> |
| thesis_title = <!--(or | thesis1_title = and | thesis2_title = )--> |
||
| thesis_url = <!--(or | thesis1_url = and | thesis2_url = )--> |
| thesis_url = <!--(or | thesis1_url = and | thesis2_url = )--> |
||
Line 28: | Line 27: | ||
| influences = |
| influences = |
||
| influenced = |
| influenced = |
||
| awards = ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'s}} 2020 Kid of the Year |
| awards = ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'s}} 2020 Kid of the Year<br>[[Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge]] (2017) |
||
| spouse = <!--(or | spouses = )--> |
| spouse = <!--(or | spouses = )--> |
||
| partner = <!--(or | partners = )--> |
| partner = <!--(or | partners = )--> |
||
Line 38: | Line 37: | ||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Gitanjali Rao''' is an American inventor, author, social activist, and a [[STEM]] student and advocate. |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | Rao won the [[Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge]] in 2017<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Hall, Hanson |author2=Kelly, Monica |date=7 February 2023 |title=11-year-old scientist is developing a solution to help solve the water crisis in Flint, Michigan |url=https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/particles/all-articles/article-detail/~/clean-water-lead-detection-young-scientist-challenge/?storyid=e8ea94e9-95b7-448a-bd74-79fbbb0a5960 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413144725/https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/particles/all-articles/article-detail/~/clean-water-lead-detection-young-scientist-challenge/?storyid=e8ea94e9-95b7-448a-bd74-79fbbb0a5960 |archive-date=13 April 2019 |access-date=7 February 2023 |website=[[3M]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Industry News |journal=Journal (American Water Works Association) |date=2017 |volume=109 |issue=12 |pages=80–85 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26653648 |publisher=[[American Water Works Association]] |doi=10.1002/j.1551-8833.2017.tb00038.x |jstor=26653648 |s2cid=247674952 |issn=0003-150X}}</ref> and was recognized on [[Forbes 30 Under 30|''Forbes'' 30 Under 30]] for her innovations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gitanjali Rao |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/gitanjali-rao/?sh=49c6051a4ffe |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> Rao was named ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'s}} top young innovator of 2020 for her innovations and "innovation workshops" she conducts across the globe<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Seven Young Inventors Who See a Better Way |url=https://time.com/collection/davos-2020/5765632/young-inventors-changing-the-world/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |language=en-us}}</ref> and, on December 4, 2020, was featured on the cover of ''Time'' and named their first "Kid of the Year".<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Meet Time's First-Ever Kid of the Year|url=https://time.com/5916772/kid-of-the-year-2020/|access-date=December 4, 2020|magazine=Time}}</ref><ref name=npr.org>{{cite web |
||
| url =https://www.npr.org/2020/12/03/942034617/time-names-its-kid-of-the-year-water-testing-scientist-gitanjali-rao |
| url =https://www.npr.org/2020/12/03/942034617/time-names-its-kid-of-the-year-water-testing-scientist-gitanjali-rao |
||
| title ='Time' Names Its Kid Of The Year: Water-Testing Scientist Gitanjali Rao |
| title ='Time' Names Its Kid Of The Year: Water-Testing Scientist Gitanjali Rao |
||
Line 48: | Line 49: | ||
| access-date =December 8, 2020 |
| access-date =December 8, 2020 |
||
| quote = }}</ref> |
| quote = }}</ref> |
||
⚫ | |||
== Early life == |
== Early life == |
||
Rao was born in 2005 in Columbus, Ohio{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}} to parents Bharathi and Ram Rao.<ref>[https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/journeys-innovation/field-stories/one-girls-commitment United States Patent and Trademark Office website, ‘’Journeys of Innovation’’ section, ‘’One girl’s commitment’’, retrieved 2023-11-20]</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-12-04 |title=Indian-American Gitanjali Rao is on ‘TIME’ cover, Twitter churns out ‘desi parents’ memes |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/indian-american-gitanjali-rao-is-on-time-cover-twitter-churns-out-desi-parents-memes/articleshow/79561503.cms |access-date=2023-12-05 |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> She later moved to [[Lone Tree, Colorado]] and attended [[STEM School Highlands Ranch]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martinez |first=Rose |date=Apr 2, 2021 |title=TIME’s Kid of the Year shares why she’s attending STEM School of Highlands Ranch |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/partner-insights/2021/04/02/times-kid-of-the-year-shares-why-shes-attending.html |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Denver Business Journal}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/28/health/gitanjali-rao-young-scientist-winner/index.html|title=Gitanjali Rao wants to make polluted water safer with lead detection system|last=Prisco|first=Jacopo|work=CNN|date=February 15, 2018|access-date=August 12, 2019}}</ref> |
|||
Rao is of Indian descent. She enjoys Indian classical music.<ref name="Great Big Story">{{Citation|last=Great Big Story|title=This 12-Year-Old Scientist is Taking On Flint's Water Crisis|date=March 8, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvEJi0t5nY|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> |
|||
⚫ | |||
Rao is of Indian descent. She enjoys Indian classical dancing and classical music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biswas |first=Enakshi |title=TIME Magazine’s first ever Kid of the Year: Gitanjali Rao - A Window Into The World Of Women |url=https://herworldindia.com/time-magazines-first-ever-kid-of-the-year-gitanjali-rao/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |language=en-US}}</ref> |
|||
== Career == |
|||
⚫ | Rao was first influenced by a science kit her uncle gave to her when she was 4 years old.<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/12/23/949657760/this-teen-scientist-is-times-first-ever-kid-of-the-year/|title=This Teen Scientist Is Time's First-Ever 'Kid Of The Year'|website=Short Wave|publisher=[[NPR]]|host=Madeline Sofia|date=January 11, 2021|access-date=January 14, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref> When she was 10, |
||
⚫ | Rao has expressed interest in studying [[genetics]] and [[epidemiology]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/11/22/americas-top-young-scientist-lone-tree-gitanjali-rao-lead-flint-michigan/|title=Lone Tree girl named America's Top Young Scientist after inventing lead-detecting sensor to help residents of Flint, Mich. |date=November 23, 2017|newspaper=The Denver Post|access-date=October 23, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/teachers-can-learn-americas-top-young-scientist-12-year-old-gitanjali-rao-224050370.html|title=What teachers can learn from America's top young scientist, 12-year-old Gitanjali Rao|access-date=October 23, 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2017/10/19/indian-american-girl-gitanjali-rao-is-the-winner-of-2017-discovery-education-3m-young-scientist-challenge-429746/|title=Indian American Gitanjali Rao is the winner of 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge|date=October 19, 2017|work=The American Bazaar|access-date=October 23, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> She has conducted research at the [[University of Colorado]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gitanjali Rao - Profile|url=https://sites.google.com/view/gitanjalispages/profile|access-date=March 14, 2021|website=sites.google.com|language=en-US|archive-date=July 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724023144/https://sites.google.com/view/gitanjalispages/profile|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
||
⚫ | |||
== Inventions== |
|||
⚫ | |||
===Tethys=== |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | Rao was first influenced by a science kit her uncle gave to her when she was 4 years old.<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/12/23/949657760/this-teen-scientist-is-times-first-ever-kid-of-the-year/|title=This Teen Scientist Is Time's First-Ever 'Kid Of The Year'|website=Short Wave|publisher=[[NPR]]|host=Madeline Sofia|date=January 11, 2021|access-date=January 14, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref> When she was 10, she heard about the [[Flint water crisis]] while watching the news<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rookiemag.com/2018/01/finding-solutions-real-problems-interview-gitanjali-rao/|title=Finding Solutions to Real Problems: An Interview With Gitanjali Rao - Rookie|date=January 11, 2018|work=Rookie|access-date=October 23, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thecut.com/2017/10/gitanjali-rao-lead-detection-flint-crisis.html|title=11-Year-Old Creates Lead-Detection Device to Help With Flint Water Crisis|last=Ryan|first=Lisa|work=The Cut|access-date=October 23, 2018|language=en}}</ref> and became interested in ways to measure the lead content in water. This led to her using [[App Inventor for Android|App Inventor]] to develop a device called Tethys which was based on [[carbon nanotube]]s that could send water quality information via [[Bluetooth]].<ref>{{Citation|last=The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge|title=2017 National Finalist: Gitanjali Rao|date=July 18, 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4WM3arrBgo|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> She collaborated with a research scientist at [[3M]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youngscientistlab.com/node/4436|title=Dr. Kathleen Shafer {{!}} Young Scientist Lab|website=www.youngscientistlab.com|language=en|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> and in 2017, she won the [[Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge]] and was awarded $25,000 for her invention, Tethys.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0610bhj|title=The 12 year old inventor protecting your drinking water|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/meet-11-year-developed-method-testing-lead-water-50651198|title=Video: Meet the 11-year-old who developed a new method of testing for lead in water|website=ABC News|language=en|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| quote = }}</ref> |
|||
Tethys contains a 9-volt battery, a lead sensing unit, a [[Bluetooth]] extension and a processor.<ref name=":1" /> It uses carbon nanotubes, whose resistance changes in the presence of lead.<ref name="Great Big Story">{{Citation|last=Great Big Story|title=This 12-Year-Old Scientist is Taking On Flint's Water Crisis|date=March 8, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvEJi0t5nY|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> She learned about the carbon nanotubes while reading the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] website.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40439492/this-11-year-old-invented-a-cheap-test-kit-for-lead-in-drinking-water|title=This 11-Year-Old Invented A Cheap Test Kit For Lead In Drinking Water|date=July 13, 2017|work=Fast Company|access-date=October 23, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> She plans to work with scientists and medical professionals to investigate the potential of Tethys as a viable method.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/who-is-gitanjali-rao-the-11-year-old-just-won-the-2017-discovery-education-3m-young-scientist-challenge-for-this-amazing-innovation-2957968|title=This 11-Year-Old Girl Just Made An Amazing Innovation In How We Test For Lead, & Proved How Much Girls Rule In The Process|last=Thorpe|first=JR|work=Bustle|access-date=October 23, 2018|language=en}}</ref> |
|||
⚫ | Rao developed an app named |
||
She presented her idea at the 2018 MAKERS Conference and raised a further $25,000.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://socialgoodrevolution.co/2018/02/22/gitanjali-rao-americas-top-young-scientist-of-2017-nabs-another-25000-for-lead-detection-invention/|title=Gitanjali Rao, America's Top Young Scientist of 2017, Nabs Another $25,000 For Lead-Detection Invention|access-date=October 23, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024073607/http://socialgoodrevolution.co/2018/02/22/gitanjali-rao-americas-top-young-scientist-of-2017-nabs-another-25000-for-lead-detection-invention/|archive-date=October 24, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of January 2019, she was working with the Denver water facility and planned to have a prototype within two years.<ref>{{cite web |title=13-Year-Old Gitanjali Rao's Lead Detecting Invention Lands Her On Forbes' '30 Under 30' |url=https://www.cpr.org/2019/01/28/13-year-old-gitanjali-raos-lead-detecting-invention-lands-her-on-forbes-30-under-30/ |website=CPR |access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref> |
|||
⚫ | |||
===Epione=== |
|||
⚫ | In 2019, Rao developed a diagnostic tool called Epione for early diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kdvr.com/2019/07/22/stem-school-student-receives-another-national-award-for-an-invention/|title=STEM School student receives another national award for an invention|date=July 23, 2019|website=FOX31 Denver|language=en|access-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref> |
||
===Kindly=== |
|||
⚫ | Rao developed an app named "Kindly" that uses [[artificial intelligence]] that can detect cyberbullying at an early stage and has partnered with UNICEF to roll-out the service globally.<ref name=usatoday.com/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kindly |url=https://www.unicef.org/innovation/kindly |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=www.unicef.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name="One girl's commitment">{{cite web |last1=Fritchman |first1=Rebecca |title=One girl's commitment |url=https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/journeys-innovation/field-stories/one-girls-commitment |publisher=[[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] |access-date=11 May 2023 |date=25 February 2022}}</ref> |
||
==Other works== |
|||
⚫ | Rao is a three-time [[TED (conference)|TEDx]] speaker<ref>{{Citation|last=TEDx Talks|title=A 12-year-old inventor's device for detecting lead in water {{!}} Gitanjali Rao {{!}} TEDxNashville|date=June 7, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVgaJN3GI6U|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn4SNdXqYBw|title=A device to detect lead in water by a 13-year-old innovator | Gitanjali Rao | TEDxGateway - YouTube|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBEPYDLD3vg|title=A Young Scientist's Guide to Problem Solving and Innovation | Gitanjali Rao | TEDxChennai - YouTube|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> and is passionate about sharing her love of [[STEM]]. She has given over 200 talks and workshops in more than 40 countries.<ref name=GB>[https://globalteacherprize.org/news/global-student-prize-finalists/2022-finalists-global-student-prize/693/693-Gitanjali-Rao Global Teacher Prize website, ''2022 Finalists Global Student Prize'' page, article dated December 6, 2022 ]</ref> She conducts innovation workshops for students throughout the globe in partnership with after school clubs, schools, science museums, STEM organizations and other educational organizations to promote a problem-solving curriculum for K-12 students.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Catching Up With TIME's 2020 Kid of the Year Gitanjali Rao |url=https://time.com/6146395/gitanjali-rao-kid-of-the-year-one-year-later/ |access-date=2022-07-29 |magazine=Time |language=en}}</ref> |
||
{{as of|2020}}, she is a member of [[Scouts]] and has enrolled in the Scouting STEM program in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Living the Scout Life - STEM Scout Named Time's First-Ever Kid of the Year|url=https://www.scoutshop.org/blog/stem-scout-named-times-first-ever-kid-of-the-year-.html|date=December 3, 2020|access-date=December 4, 2020|website=www.scoutshop.org}}</ref> |
|||
In 2021, Rao published her book, ''Young Inventor's Guide to STEM'', which elaborates on her 5 Steps To Problem-Solving For Students, Educators, and Parents.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Young-Innovators-Guide-to-STEM/Gitanjali-Rao/9781642938005 |title=A Young Innovator's Guide to STEM |date=2021-03-16 |isbn=978-1-64293-800-5 |language=en|last1=Rao |first1=Gitanjali }}</ref> Sections of the book have been adapted for school use in Kenya and Uganda.<ref name=GB /> |
|||
In 2023 Rao enrolled at MIT and gained her pilot’s licence; in 2024, she plans to publish her second book, ''A Young Innovators Guide to Planning For Success''.<ref>[https://news.mit.edu/2023/gitanjali-rao-honored-white-house-girls-leading-change-1120 MIT website, MIT News section, ''Gitanjali Rao honored at White House “Girls Leading Change” celebration'', article by Sarah Foote dated November 20, 2023]</ref><ref>[https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/indian-american-teen-inventor-honoured-by-jill-biden-for-leading-community-improvement-in-us/article67411048.ece The Hindu website, ‘’Indian-American teen inventor honoured by Jill Biden for leading community improvement in US’’, article dated October 12, 2023]</ref><ref name="wbur.org/hereandnow">{{cite web |
|||
| url =https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2020/12/09/gitanjali-rao-kid-of-the-year-time |
| url =https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2020/12/09/gitanjali-rao-kid-of-the-year-time |
||
| title =15-Year-Old Innovator Named 'Kid of the Year' By Time Magazine |
| title =15-Year-Old Innovator Named 'Kid of the Year' By Time Magazine |
||
Line 83: | Line 89: | ||
| quote = }}</ref> |
| quote = }}</ref> |
||
==Awards and recognition== |
|||
Rao became the first person to be named Time magazine's Kid of the Year in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gitanjali Rao: Time magazine names teenage inventor its first 'kid of the year' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/04/time-magazine-names-teenage-inventor-its-first-kid-of-the-year-gitanjali-rao|url-status=live|website=[[The Guardian]] |via=[[Press Association]] |date=December 4, 2020}}</ref> Rao is also the author of the book," Young Inventor's Guide to STEM", which elaborates on her 5 Steps To Problem-Solving For Students, Educators, and Parents.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Young-Innovators-Guide-to-STEM/Gitanjali-Rao/9781642938005 |title=A Young Innovator's Guide to STEM |date=2021-03-16 |isbn=978-1-64293-800-5 |language=en|last1=Rao |first1=Gitanjali }}</ref> Rao conducts innovation workshops for students throughout the globe in partnership with after school clubs, schools, science museums, STEM organizations and other educational organizations to promote a problem-solving curriculum for K-12 students.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Catching Up With TIME's 2020 Kid of the Year Gitanjali Rao |url=https://time.com/6146395/gitanjali-rao-kid-of-the-year-one-year-later/ |access-date=2022-07-29 |magazine=Time |language=en}}</ref> |
|||
⚫ | In 2017, Rao won the [[Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge]]. The Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America recognized her as its STEM Scout of the Year in 2017. These honors led to her inclusion in the delegation for the 2017 BSA Report to the Nation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-03 |title=TIME's 2020 Kid of the Year Is a STEM Scout! |url=https://scoutingwire.org/times-2020-kid-of-the-year-is-a-stem-scout/ |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Scouting Wire |language=en-US}}</ref> |
||
In 2018, Rao was awarded the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] President's Environmental Youth Award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://h2oradio.org/GirlGenius.html|title=Girl Genius: This 12-year-old just invented device to detect lead in water|website=h2oradio.org|access-date=October 23, 2018|archive-date=December 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204002740/http://h2oradio.org/GirlGenius.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
|||
In 2019, Rao was recognized on [[Forbes 30 Under 30]] in the science category. She was awarded the Top "Health" Pillar Prize for the TCS Ignite Innovation Student Challenge in May 2019 for developing a diagnostic tool called Epione based on advances in [[genetic engineering]] for early diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction.<ref name=usatoday.com>{{cite web |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| quote = }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kdvr.com/2019/07/22/stem-school-student-receives-another-national-award-for-an-invention/|title=STEM School student receives another national award for an invention|date=July 23, 2019|website=FOX31 Denver|language=en|access-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref> |
|||
In 2020, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' named her the top young innovator. She was also the first person to be named Time magazine's Kid of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gitanjali Rao: Time magazine names teenage inventor its first 'kid of the year' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/04/time-magazine-names-teenage-inventor-its-first-kid-of-the-year-gitanjali-rao|website=[[The Guardian]] |via=[[Press Association]] |date=December 4, 2020}}</ref> |
|||
⚫ | |||
== References == |
== References == |
||
{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
||
==Further reading== |
|||
*{{cite book |last1=Estes |first1=Fred |title=Teen Innovators: Nine Young People Engineering a Better World with Creative Inventions |date=6 September 2022 |publisher=[[Lerner Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-1-7284-5601-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tlh1EAAAQBAJ |language=en |chapter=Chapter 2}} |
|||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
Line 94: | Line 121: | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Gitanjali}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Gitanjali}} |
||
⚫ | |||
[[Category:21st-century American inventors]] |
[[Category:21st-century American inventors]] |
||
[[Category:American |
[[Category:American child activists]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:American people of Indian descent]] |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
[[Category:Women inventors]] |
|||
⚫ | |||
[[Category:21st-century American women scientists]] |
|||
⚫ | |||
[[Category:Inventors from Colorado]] |
[[Category:Inventors from Colorado]] |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
[[Category:Time Kid of the Year]] |
[[Category:Time Kid of the Year]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:American women inventors]] |
||
⚫ |
Latest revision as of 19:40, 18 July 2024
Gitanjali Rao | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | 2005 (age 18–19) Columbus, Ohio |
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, social activist, and a STEM student and advocate.
Rao won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge in 2017[1][2] and was recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30 for her innovations.[3] Rao was named Time's top young innovator of 2020 for her innovations and "innovation workshops" she conducts across the globe[4] and, on December 4, 2020, was featured on the cover of Time and named their first "Kid of the Year".[5][6]
Early life
Rao was born in 2005 in Columbus, Ohio[citation needed] to parents Bharathi and Ram Rao.[7][8] She later moved to Lone Tree, Colorado and attended STEM School Highlands Ranch.[9][10]
Rao is of Indian descent. She enjoys Indian classical dancing and classical music.[11]
Rao has expressed interest in studying genetics and epidemiology.[12][13][14] She has conducted research at the University of Colorado.[15]
Inventions
Tethys
Rao was first influenced by a science kit her uncle gave to her when she was 4 years old.[16] When she was 10, she heard about the Flint water crisis while watching the news[17][18] and became interested in ways to measure the lead content in water. This led to her using App Inventor to develop a device called Tethys which was based on carbon nanotubes that could send water quality information via Bluetooth.[19] She collaborated with a research scientist at 3M[20] and in 2017, she won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge and was awarded $25,000 for her invention, Tethys.[10][21][22]
Tethys contains a 9-volt battery, a lead sensing unit, a Bluetooth extension and a processor.[10] It uses carbon nanotubes, whose resistance changes in the presence of lead.[23] She learned about the carbon nanotubes while reading the Massachusetts Institute of Technology website.[24] She plans to work with scientists and medical professionals to investigate the potential of Tethys as a viable method.[25]
She presented her idea at the 2018 MAKERS Conference and raised a further $25,000.[26] As of January 2019, she was working with the Denver water facility and planned to have a prototype within two years.[27]
Epione
In 2019, Rao developed a diagnostic tool called Epione for early diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction.[28]
Kindly
Rao developed an app named "Kindly" that uses artificial intelligence that can detect cyberbullying at an early stage and has partnered with UNICEF to roll-out the service globally.[29][30][31]
Other works
Rao is a three-time TEDx speaker[32][33][34] and is passionate about sharing her love of STEM. She has given over 200 talks and workshops in more than 40 countries.[35] She conducts innovation workshops for students throughout the globe in partnership with after school clubs, schools, science museums, STEM organizations and other educational organizations to promote a problem-solving curriculum for K-12 students.[36]
As of 2020[update], she is a member of Scouts and has enrolled in the Scouting STEM program in the United States.[37]
In 2021, Rao published her book, Young Inventor's Guide to STEM, which elaborates on her 5 Steps To Problem-Solving For Students, Educators, and Parents.[38] Sections of the book have been adapted for school use in Kenya and Uganda.[35]
In 2023 Rao enrolled at MIT and gained her pilot’s licence; in 2024, she plans to publish her second book, A Young Innovators Guide to Planning For Success.[39][40][41]
Awards and recognition
In 2017, Rao won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. The Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America recognized her as its STEM Scout of the Year in 2017. These honors led to her inclusion in the delegation for the 2017 BSA Report to the Nation.[42]
In 2018, Rao was awarded the United States Environmental Protection Agency President's Environmental Youth Award.[43]
In 2019, Rao was recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30 in the science category. She was awarded the Top "Health" Pillar Prize for the TCS Ignite Innovation Student Challenge in May 2019 for developing a diagnostic tool called Epione based on advances in genetic engineering for early diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction.[29][44]
In 2020, Time named her the top young innovator. She was also the first person to be named Time magazine's Kid of the Year.[45]
In 2021, Rao was honored as a Laureate of the Young Activists Summit at UN Geneva.[46]
References
- ^ Hall, Hanson; Kelly, Monica (February 7, 2023). "11-year-old scientist is developing a solution to help solve the water crisis in Flint, Michigan". 3M. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ^ "Industry News". Journal (American Water Works Association). 109 (12). American Water Works Association: 80–85. 2017. doi:10.1002/j.1551-8833.2017.tb00038.x. ISSN 0003-150X. JSTOR 26653648. S2CID 247674952.
- ^ "Gitanjali Rao". Forbes.
- ^ "Seven Young Inventors Who See a Better Way". Time.
- ^ "Meet Time's First-Ever Kid of the Year". Time. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ Chappell, Bill (December 3, 2020). "'Time' Names Its Kid Of The Year: Water-Testing Scientist Gitanjali Rao". NPR. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- ^ United States Patent and Trademark Office website, ‘’Journeys of Innovation’’ section, ‘’One girl’s commitment’’, retrieved 2023-11-20
- ^ "Indian-American Gitanjali Rao is on 'TIME' cover, Twitter churns out 'desi parents' memes". The Economic Times. December 4, 2020. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ Martinez, Rose (April 2, 2021). "TIME's Kid of the Year shares why she's attending STEM School of Highlands Ranch". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c Prisco, Jacopo (February 15, 2018). "Gitanjali Rao wants to make polluted water safer with lead detection system". CNN. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- ^ Biswas, Enakshi. "TIME Magazine's first ever Kid of the Year: Gitanjali Rao - A Window Into The World Of Women". Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "Lone Tree girl named America's Top Young Scientist after inventing lead-detecting sensor to help residents of Flint, Mich". The Denver Post. November 23, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ "What teachers can learn from America's top young scientist, 12-year-old Gitanjali Rao". Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ "Indian American Gitanjali Rao is the winner of 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge". The American Bazaar. October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ "Gitanjali Rao - Profile". sites.google.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ Madeline Sofia (January 11, 2021). "This Teen Scientist Is Time's First-Ever 'Kid Of The Year'". Short Wave (Podcast). NPR. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Finding Solutions to Real Problems: An Interview With Gitanjali Rao - Rookie". Rookie. January 11, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ Ryan, Lisa. "11-Year-Old Creates Lead-Detection Device to Help With Flint Water Crisis". The Cut. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge (July 18, 2017), 2017 National Finalist: Gitanjali Rao, retrieved October 23, 2018
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Dr. Kathleen Shafer | Young Scientist Lab". www.youngscientistlab.com. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ "The 12 year old inventor protecting your drinking water". BBC. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ "Video: Meet the 11-year-old who developed a new method of testing for lead in water". ABC News. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ Great Big Story (March 8, 2018), This 12-Year-Old Scientist is Taking On Flint's Water Crisis, retrieved October 23, 2018
- ^ "This 11-Year-Old Invented A Cheap Test Kit For Lead In Drinking Water". Fast Company. July 13, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ Thorpe, JR. "This 11-Year-Old Girl Just Made An Amazing Innovation In How We Test For Lead, & Proved How Much Girls Rule In The Process". Bustle. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ "Gitanjali Rao, America's Top Young Scientist of 2017, Nabs Another $25,000 For Lead-Detection Invention". Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ "13-Year-Old Gitanjali Rao's Lead Detecting Invention Lands Her On Forbes' '30 Under 30'". CPR. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ "STEM School student receives another national award for an invention". FOX31 Denver. July 23, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
- ^ a b Yancey-Bragg, N'dea (December 3, 2020). "Time names 15-year-old scientist and inventor Gitanjali Rao its first Kid of the Year". USA Today. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- ^ "Kindly". www.unicef.org. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ Fritchman, Rebecca (February 25, 2022). "One girl's commitment". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ^ TEDx Talks (June 7, 2018), A 12-year-old inventor's device for detecting lead in water | Gitanjali Rao | TEDxNashville, retrieved October 23, 2018
- ^ "A device to detect lead in water by a 13-year-old innovator | Gitanjali Rao | TEDxGateway - YouTube". www.youtube.com.
- ^ "A Young Scientist's Guide to Problem Solving and Innovation | Gitanjali Rao | TEDxChennai - YouTube". www.youtube.com.
- ^ a b Global Teacher Prize website, 2022 Finalists Global Student Prize page, article dated December 6, 2022
- ^ "Catching Up With TIME's 2020 Kid of the Year Gitanjali Rao". Time. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ "Living the Scout Life - STEM Scout Named Time's First-Ever Kid of the Year". www.scoutshop.org. December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ Rao, Gitanjali (March 16, 2021). A Young Innovator's Guide to STEM. ISBN 978-1-64293-800-5.
- ^ MIT website, MIT News section, Gitanjali Rao honored at White House “Girls Leading Change” celebration, article by Sarah Foote dated November 20, 2023
- ^ The Hindu website, ‘’Indian-American teen inventor honoured by Jill Biden for leading community improvement in US’’, article dated October 12, 2023
- ^ Mosley, Tonya (December 9, 2020). "15-Year-Old Innovator Named 'Kid of the Year' By Time Magazine". WBUR Here and Now. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ "TIME's 2020 Kid of the Year Is a STEM Scout!". Scouting Wire. December 3, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ "Girl Genius: This 12-year-old just invented device to detect lead in water". h2oradio.org. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ "STEM School student receives another national award for an invention". FOX31 Denver. July 23, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
- ^ "Gitanjali Rao: Time magazine names teenage inventor its first 'kid of the year'". The Guardian. December 4, 2020 – via Press Association.
- ^ "Young Activists Summit". UN.
Further reading
- Estes, Fred (September 6, 2022). "Chapter 2". Teen Innovators: Nine Young People Engineering a Better World with Creative Inventions. Lerner Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-7284-5601-0.