11-yr-old Indian girl top young scientist

LONE TREE, CO — 3M and Discovery Education have named an 11-year-old Indian American girl, Gitanjali Rao, as the 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge winner.

Rao, a seventh-grader at STEM School and Academy, was chosen from among 10 finalists who included five Indian American kids in capturing the $25,000 top prize and title of America’s Top Young Scientist at the 10th annual event.

The remaining nine finalists received $1,000 and a variety of prizes from Discovery Education and 3M.

The tween is working to develop Tethys, a sensor-based device that can detect lead in water faster than other current techniques.

Rather than using expensive equipment for testing, Rao’s cost-effective approach to water safety uses a mobile app that populates the water’s status almost immediately, according to a 3M and Discovery Education joint news release.

Tethys is designed to be portable and easy to use, allowing individuals to test water safety whenever needed. She hopes to solve the water contamination crisis and decrease long-term health effects from lead exposure.