TIME Kid of the Year

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Children

Ed Hessler

TIME has named its first ever Kid of the Year.

Gitanjali Rao is a Colorado teenager who invented a mobile device for detecting the presence of lead in drinking water.

Rao is not to pigeon-holed. I could describe her a scientist, an inventor, a design engineer and be right as well as not encapsulating her into a discipline.

The article by Time Staff includes an interview with Rao in which she describes impressive outreach efforts--innovation sessins--to other teen age students, a process she has found useful in devising solutions and inventions (including prevention of cyberbullying), what she reads and mentions that "during quarantine (she has baked) an ungodly amount," adding "It's not good, but it's baking. And, like, it's science too."

The process which she discusses is observe, brainstorm, research, build, and communicate. 

She is no stranger to recognition, awards and honors. Last year she was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list (age 12, she is now 15). 

The TIME article also describes the work of honorees--another impressive list of young people and work. Videos are included.

Rad is an inspiring young woman; all of them are..