15-yr-old Indian-American Becomes first 'TIME Kid of the Year'! Who is Gitanjali Rao and Why is She on TIME's Cover Page?

As a proud moment for all Indians, fifteen-year-old Gitanjali Rao - a "brilliant" young scientist and inventor, who has been named by TIME magazine as the first-ever Kid of the Year' for her "astonishing work using technology to tackle issues ranging from contaminated drinking water to opioid addiction and cyberbullying. 

This Indian-American teen, who lives in Lone Tree, Colorado, was interviewed by actor and activist Angelina Jolie for the TIME special. Currently, this young star is working on what she calls “an easy way to help detect bio-contaminants in water things like parasites”. 

“The world belongs to those who shape it. And however uncertain that world may feel at a given moment, the reassuring reality seems to be that each new generation produces more of what these kids have already achieved: positive impact, in all sizes,” the magazine said.

Recently, she developed a phone and Web tool, which uses artificial intelligence technology to detect possible early signs of cyberbullying. “You type in a word or phrase, and it’s able to pick it up if it’s bullying, and it gives you the option to edit it or send it the way it is. The goal is not to punish. As a teenager, I know teenagers tend to lash out sometimes. Instead, it gives you the chance to rethink what you’re saying so that you know what to do next time around”, Rao told TIME.  

Keeping in mind the other laurels, this little star was featured in Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30’ list for her innovations. In 2017, she won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge and was awarded USD 25,000 for creating a device called Tethys.

Talking about the device, which contains a 9-volt battery, a lead sensing unit- is a bluetooth extension, and a processor that was created to detect lead in water.

In 2018, Rao, a 3-time TEDx Speaker was honoured with the United States Environmental Protection Agency President’s Environmental Youth Award. In May 2019, was awarded the Top ‘Health’ Pillar Prize for the TCS Ignite Innovation Student Challenge for developing a diagnostic tool based on advances in genetic engineering for early diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction.