Here’s what’s next for Orlando teen who invented device with potential to help 2.2 billion people

Florida’s Fourth Estate

A teen inventor helping the visually impaired now focuses on artificial intelligence and saving the world from oil spills.

Tiffani Gay is heading into her senior year of high school. She also hopes to catch the attention of her dream university, Harvard.

The world has changed a lot since Gay last appeared on Florida’s Fourth Estate. After going viral on our YouTube channel, Gay got a call from the Tamron Hall Show.

“Without you, I don’t think I would have gotten that opportunity,” Gay said.

She has become known around the world for her invention that can help visually impaired people navigate using radar instead of guide dogs or a cane.

“I’m getting replies from inventors in Switzerland and inventors here locally asking to collaborate on a host of different projects,” Gay said. “The next project I’m working on is an electromagnetic system that is capable of separating oil from water.”

She recently won first place from NOAA for her research in this field. She is hoping to one day use the technology to help animals impacted by oil spills in the ocean. Another new passion involves social issues.

Gay has noticed one common theme in her science classes.

“It’s kind of overbearingly full of men right now,” she said.

Gay was one of two girls in her high-level science classes.

“I felt like making a mistake would make me and all of the other women in the room look less intelligent,” she said.

So, she and her partner in class co-founded Girls Who Code.

Every Wednesday, they mentor 2nd to 4th grade girls. The little ladies started out shy.

“As the months passed, I watched them become more interactive with the classroom,” Gay said.

Gay and her friend brought in robots and made the classroom a living breathing experience.

This busy high schooler said keeping this intense schedule isn’t easy, but a tight-knit friend group keeps her grounded.

“We are the closest friend group ever,” Gay said.,

She went to prom with a group of girls who had been together since middle school. She looks to them for balance.

“Just having that great group of friends who are all really ambitious has been very important to me,” Gay said.

As for the future, Gay will have a lot of options for college. One institution stands above the rest.

“For me right now my dream college is Harvard University,” she said.

She is researching there this summer. Gay appreciates the university’s options for research during undergraduate years. She’s also very interested in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Wherever she goes, we will keep you updated as she takes over the world.

You can hear more from Gay on Florida’s Fourth Estate. The podcast is available from wherever you listen to podcasts or anytime on News 6+.

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