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Gitanjali Rao "Kid Of The Year" Biography: Age, Career, Family andMore

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth19 November 2005

Age15 (as of 2020)

BirthplaceLone Tree, Colorado

ProfessionInventor And Scientist

NationalityAmerican

FamilyFather - Ram Rao; Mother - Bharathi Rao; Brother - Anu Rao

Gitanjali Rao "Kid Of The Year" Biography

Gitanjali Rao is an American inventor and scientist from Colorado who gained national recognition as TIME Magazine’s first-ever Kid of the Year in December

Early life and background

Gitanjali Rao was born on November 19, 2005, in Lone Tree, Colorado, and grew up in the Denver area. She attended Highlands Ranch High School where she followed a STEM-focused curriculum. Her parents are Ram and Bharathi Rao, and she has a brother named Anu. From a young age she showed an interest in science and technology, publishing a self-illustrated children’s book titled Baby Brother Wonders in 2015.

Career

Rao first attracted widespread attention as a school-age inventor and researcher. At age 10 she asked to conduct research at the Denver Water Quality Research Lab and later collaborated with a 3M research scientist to create a prototype device for detecting lead in water. That device, which she named Tethys, combined a lead-sensing unit, a processor, a Bluetooth module and a 9-volt battery. Tethys earned her the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge title and a $25,000 award in 2017, and she demonstrated the prototype on national television.

Her work on water contamination led to collaborations with the Denver Water Facility and helped secure recognition as America’s Top Young Scientist. Rao’s inventions and public profile also contributed to her inclusion on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.

Beyond environmental sensing, Rao has developed tools aimed at social good. She created an app and a Google Chrome extension that leverage artificial intelligence to spot potential cyberbullying, and she produced a tool focused on early diagnosis related to prescription opioid addiction. For the latter she received the Top Health Pillar Prize at the TCS Ignite Innovation Student Challenge in May 2019.

Awards and public speaking

Rao’s accomplishments have been acknowledged with multiple honors. In 2018 she received the United States Environmental Protection Agency President’s Environmental Youth Award. She is a three-time TEDx speaker and has continued to speak publicly about science, technology and using innovation to address societal problems.

TIME Magazine recognition

In December 2020 TIME Magazine named Gitanjali Rao its first-ever Kid of the Year, selecting her from a field of finalists drawn from thousands of young people across the United States. The recognition included a feature and an interview conducted by actress and activist Angelina Jolie. TIME highlighted Rao’s work on issues ranging from water contamination to online harassment and presented her as a young role model for STEM.

Public profile

Rao has appeared on national television to demonstrate her inventions and has worked to promote STEM education and opportunities for young people. In public interviews she has discussed perceptions of who becomes a scientist and spoken about encouraging broader participation in scientific fields. She has expressed an interest in studying genetics and epidemiology and has said she hopes to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Latest updates

As of the time of her selection as Kid of the Year in December 2020, Rao was 15 years old and continuing both her secondary education and public engagement around STEM. Her work spans environmental sensing, health-related tools and online-safety technology, and she remains active as a speaker and advocate for young innovators.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Gitanjali Rao "Kid Of The Year", send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Tethys (lead-detection prototype)

A portable lead contamination detector combining a lead-sensing unit, processor, Bluetooth extension and battery; developed in collaboration with a 3M researcher and tested with Denver Water Facility.

2017
AI-based cyberbullying detection app and Chrome extension

Tools using artificial intelligence to identify potentially harmful online content and behavior.

Tool for early diagnosis related to prescription opioid addiction

A health-focused innovation that won the Top Health Pillar Prize at the TCS Ignite Innovation Student Challenge.

2019
Baby Brother Wonders (self-illustrated book)

A children's book self-published by Rao in 2015.

2015
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Career Highlights

  1. Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge winner (2017)
  2. United States EPA President’s Environmental Youth Award (2018)
  3. Top Health Pillar Prize, TCS Ignite Innovation Student Challenge (2019)
  4. TIME Magazine’s first-ever Kid of the Year (2020)
  5. Featured on Forbes 30 Under 30
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Gitanjali Rao "Kid Of The Year" born?

19 November 2005

What is Gitanjali Rao "Kid Of The Year" known for?

Inventor And Scientist