Campaigning for world leaders to act on climate change since she was 15 years old.
11-year-old Gitlanjali was living in Colorado, 4,547 miles from Flint, Michigan, at the time the Flint water crisis was discovered. When she learnt on the news that people were getting sick from lead-poisoned water, Gitlanjali wanted to do something to help. She had the idea to use her passion for science and technology to create a device that detects lead in water, so that residents would be able to test their water before drinking it.
Gitlanjali told her parents that she wanted to develop a carbon nanotube sensor at Denver Water Quality Research Lab and she found herself a research partner. Together, they kept trying: researching, prototyping and testing sensors until they developed one that was fast, accurate, portable and inexpensive. The device detects lead in water and sends the information to a mobile app. The research duo named the device Tethys after the Greek goddess of water.
Gitlanjali wants to inspire other children to create their own devices to solve real world problems. She says, ‘While solving problems, you will continue to encounter failures. Accept them but persist with the problem. Do not give up, and always remember the bigger goal of making a difference.’
Campaigning for access to clean water for Canada’s indigenous communities since she was 8 years old.
Raising awareness of the effects of the Syrian civil war and calling for peace since she was 6 years old.
Challenging the representation of girls and women in society since she was 11 years old.
Running a marathon in 10 days to raise money for homeless people when he was 7 years old.
Fundraising for the farmers whose incomes have been affected by drought in Australia since he was 11 years old.
Inspiring girls to learn about and aspire to work in science and technology subjects since she was 16 years old.
Creating and growing a bank that helps children save money by recycling since he was 12 years old.
Designing technology to supply electricity and water without emitting greenhouse gases since he was 15 years old.
Campaigning for the banning of plastic bags in Bali since they were 10 and 12 years old.
Designing a solar powered ironing cart to reduce charcoal burning in India since she was 12 years old.
Petitioning for schools to give children reusable water bottles since he was 7 years old.
Campaigning for people and businesses to stop using single-use plastics since they were 10 and 12 years old.
Set up organisations supporting cancer patients, people in poverty, and promoting golf in young black girls, since she was 10 years old.
Saving the lives of hundreds of hedgehogs in the UK since they were 9 years old.
Campaigning to promote proper battery disposal and recycling since he was 10 years old.
Campaigning for people and businesses to stop using single-use plastics since they were 10 and 12 years old.
The world’s youngest sustainability advocate – working to make the world a better place since she was 3 years old.
