She Was Just 12 When She Took on a Water Crisis—Here’s How!
When I was 12, my biggest challenge was sneaking into the kitchen at night for an extra scoop of caramel ice cream without waking my parents. But Gitanjali Rao? She was busy solving a global crisis.Back in 2017, at just 12 years old, Gitanjali made headlines by inventing a revolutionary device to detect lead contamination in water. Her inspiration? The Flint water crisis—one of the worst public health disasters in recent U.S. history.The Tragedy That Sparked an InnovationIn 2014, in an effort to cut costs, officials in Flint, Michigan switched the city’s water supply from Detroit’s Lake Huron system to the highly polluted Flint River. The water, which was not properly treated, corroded aging lead pipes, causing dangerous amounts of lead to seep into the drinking supply.The consequences were devastating. Tens of thousands of residents—including young children—were exposed to lead poisoning, which can cause irreversible brain damage, developmental delays, and long-term health issues. The crisis also triggered an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia, which led to at least 12 deaths and dozens of illnesses.As the news of Flint’s suffering spread, Gitanjali, a young science enthusiast, was deeply moved. She couldn’t believe that millions of people around the world lacked access to safe drinking water, and she wanted to help.A Game-Changing Invention: TethysDetermined to find a solution, Gitanjali developed Tethys, a device that uses carbon nanotube sensors to detect lead in water. Unlike traditional testing methods, which can be slow and expensive, Tethys delivers results in seconds and can transmit data via Bluetooth to a smartphone—making it easier and more accessible for communities in need.Her breakthrough innovation won her the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, making her the youngest-ever winner in the competition’s history. It also landed her on TIME magazine’s first-ever "Kid of the Year" cover in 2020, cementing her status as a young changemaker.Still Changing the World TodayNow in her late teens, Gitanjali hasn’t stopped innovating. She continues to work on new technologies tackling pressing global issues—from water contamination to cyberbullying. She’s also passionate about mentoring young inventors, proving that you don’t have to be a grown-up to make a difference.The Flint water crisis exposed deep flaws in infrastructure, governance, and environmental justice, and while efforts to replace contaminated pipes continue, trust in the system remains fractured. But Gitanjali’s story is a reminder that change can come from the most unexpected places—even from a 12-year-old girl with a passion for science.So, the next time you think you’re too young (or too old) to change the world—think again.