The 15-year-old was selected from a field of more than 5,000 nominees.
Indian-American Gitanjali Rao, a “brilliant” young scientist and inventor, has been named by TIME magazine as the first “Girl of the Year” for her “amazing work in using technology to tackle problems ranging from drinking water tainted to opioid addiction and cyberbullying. “
“The world belongs to those who shape it. And as uncertain as the world may feel at any given time, the reassuring reality seems to be that each new generation produces more than these children have already achieved: positive impact, in all sizes, ”said Time.
Ms Rao, 15, was selected from a field of more than 5,000 nominees as TIME’s first girl of the year. She was interviewed by actress and activist Angelina Jolie for the TIME special.
“Observe, brainstorm, research, build and communicate,” Ms. Rao said of her process during a virtual chat with Ms. Jolie from her home in Colorado.
He spoke about his amazing work using technology to tackle problems ranging from contaminated drinking water to opioid addiction and cyberbullying, and about his mission to create a global community of young innovators to solve problems around the world.
“Even through video chat, her bright mind and generous spirit shone through, along with her inspiring message to other young people: Don’t try to solve all the problems, just focus on one that excites you,” Time said.
“If I can do it,” he said in the interview, “anyone can do it.”
Ms. Rao said that her generation faces many problems that they have never seen before.
But at the same time, we are faced with old problems that still exist. We are sitting here in the midst of a new global pandemic, and we are also facing human rights issues. There are problems that we did not create but that we now have to solve, such as climate change and cyberbullying with the introduction of technology, ”he said.
“I think more than anything right now, we just need to find what we are passionate about and solve it. Even if it’s something as small as, I want to find an easy way to pick up the trash. Everything makes a difference. Don’t feel pressured to think of something big, ”she said.
“When asked when she knew science was her passion,” Ms. Rao said she always wanted to put a smile on someone’s face. “That was my daily goal, just to make someone happy. And it soon became, How can we bring positivity and community to where we live? “
Ms. Rao added that she doesn’t look like “your typical scientist.”
“All I see on television is that he is a senior scientist, usually white. It’s strange to me that it was almost as if people were assigned roles, regarding their gender, their age, the color of their skin. My goal has really changed from not only creating my own devices to solve the world’s problems, but also inspiring others to do the same. Because, from personal experience, it’s not easy when you don’t see anyone like you. So I really want to spread that message: if I can do it, you can do it and anyone can do it, “he said.
She said that when she was in second or third grade, she started thinking about how she can use science and technology to create social change. He said he was 10 when he told his parents that he wanted to research carbon nanotube sensor technology at the Denver Water Quality Research Laboratory.
When asked by Ms. Jolie if Ms. Rao does things that children her age do, she said, “In fact, I spend more time doing 15-year-old things during quarantine. I bake an ungodly quantity. It’s not good, but it’s baking. And, like, it’s science too. “
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