Indian-American Gitanjali Rao wins 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge

Indian-American Gitanjali Rao (11) won the 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge for inventing a quick, low-cost test to detect lead-contaminated water.
She was selected from 10 finalists who had spent three months collaborating with scientists to develop their ideas.

Key Facts

Rao’s prototype device named named Tethys, after the Greek goddess for fresh water is sensor-based device detects the quality of water and shares the results to a mobile application via bluetooth. It uses carbon nanotubes to detect the presence of lead.

Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge

The aim of the competition, open to citizens of US who are enrolled from Class 5 to 8, is to identify a solution to an everyday problem that directly impacts either the contestant or the global population. The winner of the competition is awarded $25,000 along with the title of ‘America’s Top Young Scientist 2017’. Every year, the challenge asks kids in US to explain in short video new scientific idea or invention – one that solves an everyday problem. Ten finalists are chosen who compete amongst themselves.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2017