Gitanjali Rao, a eleven-year old schoolgirl startled one and all when she was announced America’s Top Young Scientist for inventing a low-cost technique that will help in detecting water polluted with lead.

Gitanji says that she was inspired to invent the test following the scandal in Michigan’s Flint. In 2014-2015, the officials in Michigan were charged with manslaughter as the water had lead content which is dangerous to human life.

Since the presence of lead in water is almost untraceable as it does not create any change to the appearance, taste or the smell of the water, drinking such water may be life threatening. However Gitanjali's device has a sensor connected to a mobile app which helps identify lead levels in the water.

Gitanjali’s device is called ‘Tethys’ named after the Greek goddess of fresh water from mythology. The girl has also been awarded a cash prize of $25,000 for achieving the top spot in 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. The highly talented Gitanjali either wants to be a geneticist or a epidemiologist when she grows up.