Nine-year-old Gitanjali Rao, a Colorado native with an early fascination for chemistry and biology, was inspired by the Flint water crisis to create Tethys - a handheld device that detects lead in drinking water. Her invention brought her science fair fame, TIME magazine coverage, and eventually admission into MIT at 19. In 2025, she became the first recipient of the Stephen Hawking Junior Medal, which honors young scientists who make complex ideas accessible to all. Rao has since expanded her inventions to include tools for spotting opioid addiction and cyberbullying prevention. Her innovative spirit stems from a desire to address real-life problems, not just satisfy scientific curiosity. At MIT, she continues to inspire others with her message: anyone can make a difference without needing a PhD.