Gitanjali Rao Awarded Inaugural Stephen Hawking Medal Junior at STARMUS Festival

Global Student Prize Finalist, Gitanjali Rao was honored as the first-ever recipient of the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior, at The Kennedy Center during the STARMUS x Earth To Space launch event. This prestigious accolade, introduced by the STARMUS Festival in collaboration with the late Professor Stephen Hawking, marks a significant milestone in recognizing young innovators dedicated to science communication.

The Stephen Hawking Medal Junior was unveiled to extend Professor Hawking's legacy of promoting science among the youth. Created to acknowledge outstanding contributions in music, cinema, or literature that bridge science with broader audiences, this award aims to inspire the next generation of science communicators.

Gitanjali Rao, an accomplished American inventor and STEM advocate, was celebrated for her pioneering work in science and technology, including the invention of "Epione" for early diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction and "Kindly," an AI-driven anti-cyberbullying service recognized as a UNICEF "Digital Public Good."

Reflecting on her achievement, Rao expressed gratitude and a sense of responsibility: "Being the first recipient of the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior is an absolute honor, but it also comes with a massive responsibility. I recognize that I am a trailblazer for thousands of young people beyond me who also have the passion to make a difference in our communities, especially girls of color."

Commencing in 2026, the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior will open nominations globally to educational institutions, inviting outstanding students aged 14 to 20 to showcase their dedication to science communication. Winners will not only receive the esteemed medal but also have the opportunity to undertake internships at prominent science and arts institutions, nurturing their skills in scientific communication.

STARMUS plans to unveil further collaborations for the Junior Medal Category, reinforcing its commitment to fostering the future leaders in science and innovation.

Garik Israelian, STARMUS co-founder and Director, celebrated this huge step for the Stephen Hawking Medal in approaching younger generations with the Junior Category. "Stephen always shared that he became interested in science being inspired by his professor Dikran Tahta, who opened his eyes to mathematics and changed his life. Since the esteemed STARMUS Advisory Board and Professor Hawking created this Medal in 2015, we all shared the same dream: to inspire the younger generations, serving as a motivational bridge with science through recognizing exceptional contributions in science communications. We've awarded such iconic figures of our time such as Jane Goodall, Hans Zimmer, Christopher Nolan, Buzz Aldrin, David Attenborough, Brian May, The Big Bang Theory, Brian Eno among many other internationally renowned figures of science, space, music, and the film industry. It was a natural step for the medal to create a dedicated category for emerging talents who will actually be responsible for the future."

“The STARMUS Advisory Board chose Gitanjali Rao as the first recipient because of her exceptional talent, dedication to science communication, and her inspiring role as a young innovator” added Professor Israelian. "The Medal reflects not only Stephen Hawking's amazing dedication to science communication but also the STARMUS spirit. As our dearest Jane Goodall -founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and STARMUS Board member- said, 'STARMUS brings together people who can link head with heart’.'"

Congratulations Gitanjali!

Read more about the Stephen Hawking Award here

Learn more about Global Student Prize Finalist Gitanjali Rao