Indian-American teenager Gitanjali Rao, whose X bio proclaims her to be “student, author, speaker, community volunteer, science enthusiast, STEM promoter”, is among 15 young women honoured by US First Lady Jill Biden as part of the first-ever “Girls Leading Change” celebration at the White House, marking the International Day of the Girl (October 11).
Gitanjali, 17, and the 14 others were selected by the White House Gender Policy Council, in recognition of their impact on their communities. “It is my honour to celebrate this exceptional group of ‘Girls Leading Change’ at the White House,” the first lady was quoted as saying in a White House press release.
“These young women are protecting and preserving the earth, writing and sharing stories that change minds, and turning their pain into purpose. Together, they represent the potential of young people across the country, and it is my hope that others can learn from the power of their innovation, strength, and hope,” said Jill Biden.
The Indian-American honouree has been recognised for her community contribution before. Gitanjali, a Colorado resident who now goes to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), according to her X post dated September 1, is a scientist whose groundbreaking lead contamination detection tool won her an EPA Presidential Award and America’s Top Young Scientist award given by Discovery Education/3M.
Her book Young Innovator’s Guide to STEM, which offers a prescriptive five-step innovation process, is used as a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) curriculum globally in selected schools, according to the White House release.
Named Time magazine’s first-ever ‘Kid of the Year’ in 2020, Gitanjali “is committed to not only continuing her career as a scientist and inventor but [also] expanding her STEM education initiative, which has already touched more than 80,000 elementary, middle, and high school students”, the release added.
The MIT freshman has also been featured in the Forbes list of ‘30 Under 30’ achievers.
