Gitanjali Rao is an Indian American inventor, author, scientist, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) promoter. She won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge in 2017, and was recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30 for her innovations. Rao was named TIME Top young innovator in 2020 for her innovations and "innovation workshops" she conducts across the globe and, on December 4, 2020 was featured on the cover of TIME magazine and named their first "Kid of the Year".