Who is Gitanjali Rao: Time Magazine's Kid of the Year?

Not many parents would expect their 10-year-old daughter to research carbon nanotube sensor technology, however this was the scenario for the parents of now-15-year-old Gitanjali Rao. This young girl is a scientist and inventor, recently given the title of Time Magazine’s first ever Kid of the Year, having been selected from a field of 5000 nominees. She also scored herself an interview with actor and activist Angelina Jolie.

At just 15, Rao has incorporated technology into her work to solve issues ranging from cyberbullying to opioid addiction. One of her inventions that strives to prevent cyberbullying is called Kindly: a mobile app and Chrome extension which can detect cyberbullying at an early stage using artificial intelligence. Rao “[hard-coded] some words that would be considered as cyberbullying, then [the] engine took those words and identified words that are similar.” Users type in a word or phrase on social media, and the system is able to pick up if it is cyberbullying, providing them with the option to edit their message or send it the way it is. Rao’s objective when creating this app was not to punish, but instead give people the chance to rethink their actions, and prevent emotions from dominating.

credit: TIME

Another invention of hers is the Tethys. Tethys is a device that detects lead contamination in water. The inspiration behind this invention was the Flint water crisis in Michigan, which resulted in 6,000 to 12,000 children being exposed to drinking water that contained high levels of lead.

According to NPR, “The invention uses carbon atoms that link together in a beehive shape and connect to create a tube - a nanotube. The carbon nanotubes respond to changes in the electron flow. If there is lead in the water, the lead sticks to the carbon ions, creating resistance. Tethys measures that resistance, and sends the data to a smartphone app to give the status of lead in water.”

Rao has now partnered with Selene Hernandez-Ruiz, a lab manager at Denver Water to test and improve her device so it can also detect interference with other chemicals in water apart from lead. The young inventor has also tackled the medical industry by creating an AI-powered medical device designed for patients who struggle with opioid addiction. This device helps to diagnose opioid addiction at an early stage, and monitor symptoms of addiction and abuse. She received the top "health" pillar prize for TCS Ignite Innovation Student Challenge for this invention.

Other accomplishments of Rao include being a talented pianist: a skill she took up after asking her mom how she could help those who were sick. She is also a member of the scouting STEM program.

credit: ProMotivate

The secret to Rao’s success is keeping kindness close to the heart. Rao has always been someone whose everyday goal was to put a smile on others’ faces, so is determined to use science and technology to create social change and achieve her goal.

One of Rao’s key mottos : is “If I can do it, anybody can do it.” She believes members of the younger generation “just need to find that something we’re passionate about and solve it”, elaborating: “Even if it’s something as small as, I want to find an easy way to pick up litter. Everything makes a difference. Don’t feel pressured to come up with something big.”

Rao is a strong believer that, no matter your age, everyone can make a difference.