The three things I learned from the genius teens at the Google Science Fair

I was fortunate enough to attend the Google Science Fair and hangout with the finalist, their proud families and even some teachers. This was my first year so I didn’t know what to expect. I was especially curious about the teenage geniuses and what set them apart?

How does someone like the grand prize winner, Kiara, come up with a way to fight drought by inventing a low-cost biodegradable superabsorbent polymer made of orange peels at the very young age of 16? I remember when I was 16, I could barely remember my locker combination.

So I took some time to talk/grill them on how they became super successful young people saving the world:

1. They all actually believed they can solve big or small problems and are not JADED like most of us. The fair was happening right at the same time as the presidential debates. The contrast was remarkable between the adults and the kids at the fair. Unlike most adults who have little hope for our future or a belief that things will be better…these kids actually do believe in a better tomorrow and they are hungry to do something about it. Their experiments were real, practical, and meant something to them.
2. They are not born geniuses. They had mentors or systems. Almost all of them had someone(s) who really helped them realize their potential: teachers, parents, programs, communities. There were, not surprisingly, some kids in the US who were involved in FIRST robotics competitions. They understood and had experience in the ecosystem of competing, losing and ultimately winning.
3. They are human like all of us. They were vulnerable and worried about their projects not being “smart” or “complex” enough (even though their projects had been chosen from a pool of thousands). They wanted my opinion on where they should go to college? As if I was a peer, like Anushka, who had invented a method for Fractal inspired Chitosan and Carbon Nanoparticle Based Biocompatible Sensor for Wound Management! It was actually uplifting to watch a group of winners set their trophies aside to spend time together after the ceremony kicking around the balloons from the balloon-drop as if it were just another day on the playground!

Geniuses can have fun too…