New York International Children's Film Festival New York, NY
Gitanjali Rao
Young Scientist; Time Kid of the Year
Not the Science Type: Gitanjali— How can youth power the planet?
Program Description
This year Girls’ POV celebrates stories of young scientists who are trailblazing creative ways to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges, including young innovators like Gitanjali Rao. You'll see there’s no science to gender bias; these girls lead the field!
Featured in The New York Times: "I wanted to eliminate the divide between [the arts and science], and have people realize how vitally important the creativity in the arts is to innovating in the sciences.”
Presented At
New York International Children's Film Festival New York, NY
Film Synopsis
Gitanjali Rao was named TIME Magazine’s Kid of the Year in 2020 and, at just 16 years old, she’s already an accomplished scientist on a mission to create a global community of young innovators to solve problems all over the world.
One section of the 4-part documentary that addresses negative stereotypes and the need for greater diversity, equity and inclusion in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.
Photo credit: Generous Films
About the Speaker
Young Scientist and Time Kid of the Year Gitanjali Rao discusses how she harnesses science and technology to create social change through a number of initiatives, including her work with carbon nanotube sensor technology to create a simple device to detect unsafe levels of lead in drinking water. With fearless pursuit, 15-year-old Gitanjali challenges the ‘single story’ narrative about who a scientist is and how their work can be used to further social good. Like other women, and in particular women of color in the field of STEM, Gitanjali continues to quiet the voice in her head that says, “I don’t feel like I belong because my race, gender and age don’t fit the biased stereotype of what others think a scientist should be”. She is motivated by finding powerful solutions for the injustices that plague everyday people—whether it be designing innovations to detect dangerous levels of lead in the water of Flint, Michigan, creating an app to educate and call out cyber bullying right where it happens, or designing a device that helps to diagnose opioid addiction. Gitanjali Rao is a force for good—a change maker that inspires kindness and designs with purpose.