There ’s a secure literary argument to be made that thebest scientists are kids . They have more optimism and curiosity than most of us , and while we ’re all distracted by small-minded squabbles , they remind us that there arebetter thingsto be concenter on .
Gitanjali Rao , an 11 - class - old schoolgirl from America , is a perfect instance of this . By invent a cheap equipment that rapidly tests water for lead contaminant , she ’s been granted theaccoladeof “ America ’s Top Young Scientist ” .
Every year , theDiscovery Education 3 M Young Scientist Challengeasks kids up and down the nation to explicate in a short telecasting a new scientific idea or conception – one that work an everyday problem . Ten finalist are chosen , and the caliber is nothing less than spectacular . This year , a robot that facilitate reduce water supply wastage and a biodegradable material made from yield that can pick up oil spill were just two of entries that made it to the last round of judging .
Indian American seventh - grader Rao – herald from Lone Tree , Colorado – fought off the competition with her machine , and has netted $ 25,000 as a result . She has explain to journalist that she hopes to become a geneticist or an epidemiologist in the futurity .
As you might await , she was inspired to work up the contraption after witnessing a grim account unfold inFlint , Michigan , where cost - cutting quantity conduct to the use of a contaminated river as the city ’s primary water supply . As a result , fantastically eminent levels of lead made their way into people ’s imbibition water .
finally , this ongoing crisis required aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) , an organization that by and large deals with the aftermath of catastrophic natural disasters .
Her twist is little and portable ; it ’s design to be used by mass who find themselves in such dire situations . If you need to know if your exhibitioner H2O or boozing piddle is lead - free , her twist – named Tethys after the Greek Titaness of freshwater – can tell you .
Rao toldBusiness Insiderthat she was inspired to create the machine after watching her parents try out for lead in their own water supply . Samples have to be air off to a science laboratory for comprehensive analytic thinking to be carried out , which is both clip - consuming and costly .
Tethys , which was build with the help of 3 M scientist over the summertime , uses peculiarly tuned carbon nanotubes that react to the presence of tip . Pairing it with a cell phone app , mass can quick determine whether or not their water has been contaminated .
Right now , you ’ve got a President and an administration that ’s openly uncongenial to scientists and skill . You ’ve also got tiddler like Rao . It ’s not unmanageable to see who thefuturebelongs to .
[ H / T : BBC News ]
