It’s World Youth Day on the 12th of August, and we thought you should know some of the most influential youth leaders in STEM for the occasion. The United Nations classifies people between the ages of 15 and 24 as a youth, which is the criteria used for this curation.
Gitanjali Rao
TIME magazine’s Kid of the Year, 2020, now 17-year-old Gitanjali Rao has multiple accomplishments to her credit. At 10, she developed a device called Tethys that can be used to detect lead content in water to help the Flint, Michigan residents. Recognised as America’s Top Scientist in 7th grade, the teen’s most recent innovation is Kindly, an app that can detect cyberbullying in the early stages. She has also invented a device called Epione that helps calculate prescription opioid addiction using genetic engineering. The youngster has a long way to go and will continue to advance the world of STEM with her work!
Olivia Hallisey
A winner of the Google Science Fair in 2015 at 17 years and one of Time Magazine’s “Thirty Most Influential Teens of 2015”, Olivia Hallisey developed a low-cost Ebola test that works rapidly. The Ebola Assay Card (EAC) is an easy-to-use visual device that also does not need refrigeration, making it a user-friendly and inexpensive device that can be used worldwide without barriers. She has also developed the Lyme Assay Card (LAC), an early detection device for Lyme disease based on saliva. Her research continues to progress and is helping develop low-cost innovative solutions to identify medical problems.
Anjali Sharma
Indian-Australian climate activist Anjali Sharma wrote history with seven fellow 17-year-olds in 2021 when she took the then Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, for failing to consider the impacts of climate change and won! The class action by the group asked for disapproving expansion to the coalmine Vickery, near Gunnedah, in NSW, on the grounds that it was harmful to the youth and future generations. The Federal Court ruled, in a world first, that the Minister for the Environment was required to have a duty of care towards teenagers and children concerning climate change impacts, particularly bushfire and heatwave impacts. This set a precedent for following court cases. A finalist for the 2021 Climate Action Prize, Anjali’s work may not be directly related to STEM but is a shining example of advocating for environmental rights, one of the most essential STEM fields.
Joaquin Cortacans
The first Uruguayan to attend space camp at 15, the now 20-year-old Joaquin has dedicated his time to spreading the love of space to Uruguayan youth. His nonprofit, Jóvenes Bajo la Lupa, is spreading awareness about the importance of science education and is a space for students to explore STEM-related fields. In 2018, Joaquin was named one of The Mars Generation’s 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Award recipients! His work goes to show how little resources and inclination developing countries have for pursuing advanced sciences when they are the ones that can bring the most innovation to the field and benefit from it.
Xóchitl Guadalupe Cruz López
We know we said we’re following the ages of 15–24, but this 12-year-old’s project is definitely worth a mention on the list of young STEM leaders on the path to changing the world! Xóchitl grew up in a low-income area of Mexico where residents did not have access to hot water and, as a result, often fell ill with respiratory diseases and were forced to cut down trees for firewood. Thus at the tender age of 8, she developed the project Hot Water, a solar-powered water heater made from basic, recycled objects that costs only about $30 to assemble. Her innovation is revolutionary for countries that struggle with deforestation and provides a sustainable, low-cost alternative for people who can not afford hot water.
These are just a few of the many youths changing the world for the better day by day with their innovations and advocacy. We hope to inspire and enable many more such children at Agastya by spreading curiosity, creativity and confidence in Indian school children and encouraging their love for STEM. Let’s invest in our youth this World Youth Day and invest in a sound future for generations to come.
