Jill Tarter, Setty Pioneer and Storms Board members, and Garric Israelian, co-founder and director, Gitanjali Rao, Gitanjali Rao presented a medal. Credit: Elman Studio
- Gitanjali Rao was honored as the inaugural recipient of Stephen Hawking Medal Junior
- Starmus Cofounders, Garric Israelian and Bryan in, Stephen Hawking Medals introduce Junior category to inspire young innovators
- The stumus celebrated his American start with a panel discussion, demonstration, announcement of junior medal at the Kennedy Center, the presentation of Strams La Palma and the American Premier of Starmus VI film.
[Washington, D.C., April 2, 2025] – Storms Festival proudly announced launch Stephen Hawking Medal Junior Category during Starms X Earth in space Launch event at Kennedy Center last night. Geetanjali Rao The first recipient was named after this prestigious award. This new category of this prestigious award created by the late professor Stephen Hawking and Storms Festival represents their final heritage to promote science communication among the younger generation.
Stephen Hawking Medal Junior Category Introduction
Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication, established in 2015, honored individuals who excelled in reducing the difference between science and public through various subjects such as music, art and cinema. The purpose of the junior category is to identify and encourage young innovators who demonstrated extraordinary talent and dedication to science communication. Like Stephen Hawking Medal, junior medal will recognize such dedication through music, cinema or literature categories.
In its opening year, the Stormus Advisory Board selected a profile, which fully inspires the young man worthy of this prestigious recognition. Starting in 2026, the full enrollment process will be open to educational centers worldwide, including universities and secondary schools. These institutions will be invited to nominate their most outstanding students, who are in the form of candidates between 14 and 20 years of age.
The winners will be awarded the Stephen Hawking Medal and will have a unique opportunity to enroll in an internship of 4 to 6-week in a selected science or art institute, which is sponsored by Storms and Stephen Hawking Medal Partners. During this internship, they will work on their own scientific communication project, which will be published by Stormus and Stephen Hawking Medal Associates and supported by a previous winner of the medal.
Stormus will soon announce world -class institutions and centers that will cooperate with the junior medal category.
Geetanjali Rao: First recipient
Gitanjali Rao, an American inventor, writer and STEM advocate, was selected as the inaugural recipient of Stephen Hawking Medal Junior. Rao, known for her groundbreaking inventions and contribution to science at an early age, embodied a sense of innovation and curiosity, which was made by Professor Hawking. He was named the first “Kid of the Year” of time in 2020 for his work in science and technology. Gitanjali is also the inventor of “Epian” -A device for the initial diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction using genetic engineering, and “Please”-AII and Natural Language Cassettic using “Anti-Cabballing Services, which is now available a Unisef” Digital Public Good “service worldwide.
,Stephen Hawking Medal is a complete honor as the first recipient of Junior, but it also comes with a large scale responsibility, ” Rao said“I believe that I am a trailblazer for thousands of youth beyond my communities, especially colored girls to create a difference in our communities,
Garric IsraelianThe co-founder and director of the Stormus, along with the Junior category, celebrated this huge step for the Stephen Hawking medal to go near younger generations. ,Stephen always shared that he was interested in science inspired by his professor Dickran Tahta, who opened his eyes for mathematics and changed his life. Since the respected Stormas Advisory Board and Professor Hawking made this medal in 2015, we all shared the same dream: to inspire young generations, serving as a motivational bridge with science through science through recognizing extraordinary contribution to science communication. We have honored such iconic figures of our time such as Jane Goodol, Hans Zimmer, Christopher Nolan, Buzz Aldrin, David Atonboro, Bryan Me, The Big Bang Theory, Bryan ANO science, space, music and many other international figures in the film industry. This was a natural step to create a dedicated category for emerging talent for medal that would actually be responsible for the future,
,The Starms Advisory Board chose Gitanjali Rao as the first recipient due to its extraordinary talent, dedication to science communication and his inspirational role as a young innovator.“Added Professor Israelian.”The medal not only reflects Stephen Hawking’s amazing dedication to the science communication, but also the structure spirit. As our most beloved Jane Gudol – the founder of the Jane Gudol Institute and a member of the Strams Board – said, “Starmus brings together who can join heads with heads.”,
Brian May, Queen lead guitarist and stormas cofounder launched Stephen Hawking Medal Junior with these words: “”We believe that it is going to create a difference in future by encouraging young minds, young artists, young scientists and young communicators. We hope that the next generation will be inspired to bring art and science together and make this world a better place.,
Celebration of Starmus start in Kennedy Center
The announcement was made at the Space Event with Starmus X Earth, as part of the two -day program. The Earth to Space Festival Prestigious Kennedy CenterThe event to be held on 1-2 April 2025 was an impressive lineup of the Nobel Prize-winning scientists, astronauts and explorers, including former NASA astronauts. Nicole Stot And Frank Lee Kulbertson JRNobel Prize winner Kip thorn And artist Lia hallorine, World famous best -selling writer Mario LivioChairman of US National Academy of Sciences Marsia macanutFamous astronomer Eva wilvarQuantum mind reader David ZambukaAnd Seti Pioneer Jill Tarter.
The attendees also enjoyed the magnificent ‘Explosive Universe’ concert By famous musicians from Starmus all starsSuch as Derek sherinian, Ron ‘Bambalfoot’, Tony FranklinAnd Winnie ApisThis concert was an attraction of this phenomenon, which reflects the fusion of science and music known for storms. The celebration of beauty and mystery of the universe promised to be an unforgettable experience for all attendees.
Stormus has announced its next version, ‘Starms La Palma, Stars islandThe characteristic of a small preview of the Stormus La Palma documentary. The event will be held on the island La Palma from 25 April to 28 April, 2025With the help of Starlite Foundation, with focus on protecting the night sky. Will join the program String talks With more than 40 famous speakers, such as Jane goodol, Nobel Prize winner, AstronautAnd others Scientific publisher, ‘Sonic Universe’ concert will perform Starmus all stars With special guest Glen HughesOscar and 15 Latin Grammy Winner George drexlerAnd Spanish pop-rock band Effecto PasiloAmong others. Additionally, there will be Two string camps And educational project ‘Crossroad‘With the aim of confusing thousands of young students with science, music and space. ,
Also involved in this program We premiere of Starmus VI film, Which displays the most exciting moments of the 2022 Starms Festival in Armenia. The film catchs the essence of completely stormus and unique stormas experience, merging the gathering of the most magnificent minds and talented artists of our time with local culture.
