Gitanjali Rao of Indian-American origin named as first TIME’s first ‘Kid of the year’

Gitanjali Rao of Indian-American origin made history by being the Time’s ever Kid of the year. The 15-year-old is no ordinary girl is. she a marvelous scientist with a highly innovative mind which she applies for the greater good. 

The teenager is a young scientist and innovator, she has been named as TIME’S first-ever kid of the year for her remarkable contributions. She has found innovative solutions for some long time problems and some modern issues. Either opium addiction, contaminated drinking water, or cyberbullying the young scientist has the solution.

Gitanjali Rao belongs from Denver, Colorado, she was chosen from 5,000 US-based nominees, and then among the 5 selected nominees, she was chosen by a committee of young people alongside comedian and TV presenter Trevor Noah.

Gitanjali has invented a lot of things and the majority of them are used for the betterment of society. Among her major inventions, she has invented a device that can be used for identifying lead in drinking water. Lead in drinking water has many hazardous effects on health. 

She has also invented an app called ‘Kindly’ and a chrome extension that can detect cyberbullying at an early stage with the help of AI technology.

Gitanjali was interviewed virtually by renowned actress and activist Angelina Jolie. In her interview with Angelina Jolie from her home Colorado, Gitanjali said, “Observe, brainstorm, research, build and communicate,”

She also said “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.

“My goal has shifted, not only from creating my own devices to solve the world’s problems but inspiring others to do the same as well…….I want to put out that message: If I can do it, you can do it, and anyone can do it.”

She also talked about the modern issues that came uninvitingly with the technology. She believes that her generation is facing many problems. New problems with new technology have come up when we have not yet get rid of the older ones. 

She shared that her interest in Science develop when she was in 2nd or 3rd grade. At such a tender age, she was curious and passionate about using science and technology for the benefit of society. At the age of 10, she told her parents that she wants to research at the Denver Water Quality Research Lab on the carbon nanotube sensor technology. 

During the interview when Angelina asked Gitanjali that if she does things that kids her age do, she said: “actually I spend more time doing 15-year-old things during the quarantine. I bake an ungodly amount. It’s not good, but it’s baking. And, like, it’s science too.”

The 15-year-old sounds confident and radiant in her interview. She and the other four selected finalists will be honored in a TV special next Friday. 

In the year 1927 Time began awarding its man of the year honor but later updated it to the person of the year, but this is the first time it has honored a kid of the year.

TIME has joined hands with the popular kid’s channel Nickelodeon for the new award. 

Last year Greta Thunberg became the youngest ever person of the year when she was given the honor by the TIME at age 16.