Time magazine started giving out the award for Person of the Year (called Man of the Year or Woman of the Year until 1999) in 1927. Its first recipient was Charles Lindbergh, which served a dual purpose because the magazine at that time has forgotten to put Lindbergh's photo on the cover during his historic trans-Atlantic flight.
Today, Greta Thunberg is the youngest ever to receive the award when she was awarded as the Person of the Year by Time magazine in 2019, USA Today reported.
After almost a century of giving out the Person of the Year Award, the American magazine and web site has recently announced its first-ever Kid of the Year -- a 15-year-old scientist and inventor from Dever, Colorado.
First-Ever
Gitanjali Rao, aged 15, is a scientist and inventor who invented novel technologies across a range of scientific fields, which made her the very first awardee of Time magazine's 'Kid of the Year' Award.
"Observe, brainstorm, research, build and communicate," that's what Rao said to actress and activist Angelina Jolie during their virtual interview via Zoom, Time reported.
Hailing from Denver, Colorado, this teenage inventor has developed a device that can detect lead in drinking water, and an application and Chrome extension that employs artificial intelligence to detect cyberbullying.
Rao said that she hoped she could inspire other people, especially the youth, to dream up ideas "to solve the world's problems."
According to an article by The Guardian, there were around 5,000 young Americans initially on the list but was narrowed down to five finalists who will each receive a cash prize and a chance to contribute to Time magazine. The five finalists will be honored in a TV special next Friday.
The other finalists include the 14-year-old artist Tyler Gordon, designer, and activist Jordan Reeves, also 14 years old. The 10-year-old first-ever crayon activist Bellen Woodard also made into the top five, as well as the 16-year-old youth hunger activist Ian McKenna.
During her interview with Angelina Jolie, Rao said that she is not the typical scientist seen on TV who were almost always older, or white, and a man. She further said that her goal has shifted not only on creating innovative devices but on inspiring others as well to do the same as she is doing.
"Because, from personal experience, it's not easy when you don't see anyone else like you," Rao said. "So I really want to put out that message: If I can do it, you can do it, and anyone can do it."
Awards and Invention
Gitanjali Rao has invented various devices throughout her young years and received awards for them. She has become the STEM promoter aside from being an inventor and an author.
In 2017, Rao won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, for her invention Tethys that can detect lead in water. Additionally, she was also recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the 30 Under 30 for her innovations and was named the top young innovator of 2020 by Time magazine. Receiving the Kid of the Year award from Time is her latest achievement.
Rao was a three-time TEDx speaker and was awarded the United States Environmental Protection Agency President's Environmental Youth Award in 2018. But it seems her talent is not only for science and math because she is also an accomplished pianist.
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