Grosvenor and his long-standing support of education, the award honors Kavita for her innovative efforts to inform and inspire students to strive towards a planet in balance. Named in honor of National Geographic Society chairman emeritus Gilbert M. This year, in recognition of her contributions, National Geographic presented Kavita with the inaugural Gilbert M. She has also helped significantly in developing National Geographic’s GeoChallenge competition, where students brainstorm solutions to real-world environmental issues. Extending her philosophy beyond her own class, in 2018 she supported students in launching of the Youth Climate Summit, where students from different schools come together to discuss climate change. In a classroom that is no stranger to chemistry puns and jaw-dropping demos complete with fire (watch the photo essay below to see for yourself!), Kavita finds creative ways to engage her students in the topics they are learning, and gets them to ask their own questions about the world around them.
According to Kavita, “teaching is part science, part art, and in part theater.”
She’s committed to preparing her students to be the next generation of planetary stewards, using chemistry as a lens through which to learn about the environment. Kavita Gupta is a chemistry teacher, but her curriculum extends far beyond the periodic table.
