Gitanjali Rao, a 15-year-old scientist and inventor, has been named as TIME Magazine’s first-ever ‘Kid of the Year’.
Rao, from Denver, Colorado, already has an incredibly impressive list of achievements, having invented new technologies across a range of fields, including a device that can identify lead in drinking water, and an app and Chrome extension that uses artificial intelligence to detect cyberbullying.
Speaking with Angelina Jolie about the achievement, Rao says she hopes to inspire others who don’t look like “typical scientists” to join the world of STEM.
“I don’t look like your typical scientist. Everything I see on TV is that it’s an older, usually white, man as a scientist,” she said.
“My goal has really shifted, not only from creating my own devices to solve the world’s problems, but inspiring others to do the same as well. Because, from personal experience, it’s not easy when you don’t see anyone else like you.
“So I really want to put out that message: If I can do it, you can do it, and anyone can do it.”
Rao was chosen from a selection of over 5,000 US-based nominees, which was narrowed down to five finalists by a committee of young people alongside comedian and TV presenter Trevor Noah.
For 92 years, TIME has presented a Person of the Year, and the youngest ever was climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was 16 when she graced the magazine’s cover in 2019.
This is the first time the magazine has named a kid of the year, which was a collaboration with children’s TV channel Nickelodeon.
Congratulations to the incredible young scientist!
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