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August 11, 2022
STEM student is finalist for award Gitanjali Rao, 16, aims to use science for kindness BY MADDIE BROWNING SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Gitanjali Rao, a 16-year-old STEM School Highlands Ranch student, has given four TED Talks about innovation and Tethys, her detection device for determining the presence of lead in drinking water. Rao is among the top 50 finalists for the Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2022. The prize awards $100,000 to the student making the greatest positive impact on their peers and society.
Rao’s interest in STEM began at the age of 4 when her uncle gifted her a science kit. She has always been interested in innovation and “using science for kindness.” Her most notable accomplishments include earning a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30—a list created by Forbes magazine recognizRao ing 30 game changers under the age of 30 in 20 different industries — in 2019 for creating a lead detection device called Tethys to recognize lead in drinking water. She also created a tool for early diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction and launched
an anti-bullying app in partnership with UNICEF. Rao’s research aims to help the people she cares about and beyond to make the world a better place. “So for me, personally, I heard about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan and then one of my friends got into a car accident and ended up getting addicted to opioids,” said Rao. “Beyond that, cyberbullying is something I went through, and a lot of my other friends went through as well, and so it’s always these things that are either personal experiences or ones that I form connections with.” Rao also published a book in March 2021 called “A Young Innovator’s Guide to STEM.” It details the
steps from identifying problems to developing solutions in a more o modern way. Some problems occur- i ring now never existed before, so i Rao argues for a new approach to P innovation. h “It’s really a methodological way a of how to go about the innovation u process and really [move away from]e what we think is normal and break it down into five steps for anyone to b take their idea from a problem to a a solution because it’s really easy to t get lost somewhere in the process,” t said Rao. Recently, she worked on lung tu- t mor research and easier drug deliv- b ery methods. Rao said her current m
t a
SEE FINALIST, P5
COUNTY
legal counsel for names of supporters of a controversial water proposal from the San Luis Valley. The proposal, from Renewable Water Resources, had strong opFROM PAGE 1 position in the southern Colorado community and Laydon expressed investigation into whether Thomconcern for its supporters. as released the document to CBS. The investigation found that Laydon seconded that motion Thomas gave direction to the and the two voted in favor of it. county’s legal staff that was They then passed another motion “contrary to a prior vote” by askdirecting their legal counsel to ing for the names of supporters “provide enforcement options” if Laydon planned to meet with. it’s found Thomas did release the The report also looked into document. allegations that Thomas creThomas left the meeting early and wasn’t present for the votes or ated a hostile work environment and caused the resignation of a discussion. first responder in the county by County attorney Lance Ingalls distributing an anonymous letter told Teal and Laydon it’s possible received by the county that dethat because one media outlet tailed concerns about employees has the document, it may not be of the Douglas County Sheriff’s able to be considered privileged Office. The investigation found anymore. that Thomas did distribute that He also discussed another letter but didn’t determine who argument the county has heard wrote it, according to the county’s that the document shouldn’t be announcement. kept private after commissioners “The investigation found that have read from and discussed it in it was more likely than not that public. Commissioner Thomas did not Both Teal and Laydon said they create a hostile work environment would like to still see the docuor cause the discharge of a former ment kept from the public. “I have nothing to hide,” Laydon employee,” according to the public announcement. said. Thomas did not reply to a reHe added that he doesn’t want quest for comment for this story. the names of county staff memAn executive session, or closedbers discussed in the report made 22nd Annual door meeting, titled “investigation public to protect them. Teal and Laydon asked for an in- update” was scheduled for the commissioners Aug. 9 at 9:15 a.m. vestigation into Thomas in April Results from the meeting were not after they said she violated the available at press time. board’s direction by asking their
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Metropolitan State University of Denver locks tuition rate Current, incoming students get a break from inflation as school holds line BY KYLE COOKE ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS
Citing economic uncertainty, Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU) announced Aug. 2 it is freezing
its tuition rate for both current and incoming students. “Our students are facing tremendous financial challenges right now,” said Janine Davidson, the university’s president. “Many are working multiple jobs just to keep up with rising costs for rent, groceries, gas and other necessities, while also persevering to earn their college degrees.” The news from MSU comes as fears SEE TUITION, P5
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