Established 1852. Re-Established 2018.

(upbeat music)

- Science can make a big difference,

anywhere from just a simple reaction

to a big experiment.

If you just find the right application,

science can save the world.

My name is Gitanjali Rao, and I'm 12 years old.

I'm a scientist.

I invented a device called Tethys

that detects leads in water faster

than any other current techniques out there today.

I was appalled by the number of people

affected by lead in water

during the Flint water crisis.

I wanted to do something to change this

for the residents of Flint

and places like Flint all over the world.

My device includes a core device

and a disposable cartridge

with the carbon in a tube sensor.

You dip this disposable cartridge into the water

you wanna test.

You pull out your phone, open up the Tethis application,

and connect over Bluetooth to get the results

of safe, slightly contaminated, or critical

of lead levels in your water.

My advice to other kids

who wanna save the world is do not be afraid to try.

I failed like four or five times,

but I got back into the lab,

did it again, and then it was like the a-ha moment

when everything kind of started coming together

and, you know, the device is born.

I think that science allows me

to look at different approaches

to solve real-world problems out there today.

It's important to take other people's problems

and make something to help them with it,

mainly because we're all one big community,

and it's our duty to help other people.