Wikipedia

Emily Calandrelli

Emily Dawn Calandrelli is an American science communicator, engineer, author, and television presenter. She is the host and an executive producer of Xploration Outer Space and previously Emily's Wonder Lab.[4]

Emily Calandrelli
Emily Calandrelli at USAF Thunderbirds event, April 2021
Born
Emily Dawn Calandrelli[1]

1986 or 1987 (age 37–38)[2]
Morgantown, West Virginia[3]
CitizenshipUnited States
Alma materWest Virginia University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Known forHost of Xploration Outer Space and Emily's Wonder Lab
SpouseTommy Franklin
Children2
Websitethespacegal.com

Early life and education

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Emily Calandrelli grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia and graduated from Morgantown High School.[2][5] As an undergraduate, she attended West Virginia University.[2] She became a Truman Scholar which led to her working for one summer in Washington, D.C. for her US Representative Alan Mollohan.[6] In 2009, she was named to the USA Today all-academic team, won the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, and was voted Ms. Mountaineer.[7] She later graduated with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering in 2010.[3]

Subsequently, Calandrelli attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where she obtained an M.S. degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics as well an M.S. degree in Technology and Policy in 2013. In 2011, Calandrelli was awarded the René Miller Prize in Systems Engineering.[8] As a Harvard NASA Tournament Lab visiting scholar, she assisted organizations in using crowdsourcing to solve technical challenges.[2]

Career

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Calandrelli in reduced-gravity flight in 2010

As a college student, Calandrelli worked at NASA as an intern. Her work at NASA included designing the simulation for the Phoenix Mars Lander's soil testing experiment, research on the use of lasers to reduce harmful emissions from jet engines, and developing chemical detection sensors.[9]

Calandrelli is a professional speaker and presents on the topics of space exploration, scientific literacy, and gender equality in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). She is a TEDx speaker[10] and a contributing writer at TechCrunch.[6] Additionally, Calandrelli is a Brooke Owens Fellowship Mentor.

Calandrelli started a career in science communication[11] when she became a host of Xploration Outer Space in Fox's Xploration Station educational block in 2014.[2] In April 2017, she made several appearances on Netflix episodes of Bill Nye Saves the World.[12][13] On August 25, 2020, Calandrelli's educational Netflix series titled Emily's Wonder Lab debuted.[14][15][16] Calandrelli filmed the series while 9 months pregnant.[17]

Calandrelli is known as "The Space Gal" online.[18] She has given presentations at Google, Pixar, MIT, Texas Instruments, and K-12 schools and universities across the United States.[19] She was invited by the White House to perform educational science experiments at the Easter Egg Roll in 2023 and 2024.[20][21]

She has written the Ada Lace series of chapter books to introduce youth to science and technology[22] and the picture book Reach for the Stars (2022), illustrated by Honee Jang.[23][24] She also authored two books of science experiments designed for children.[25][26]

She is a paid influencer for the propane industry, according to Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) documents.[27]

In July 2024, Calandrelli announced that she will be a passenger on a New Shepard flight to space.[28][18] On November 22, 2024, Calendrelli successfully launched into space as a member of Blue Origin's NS-28 mission, the company's ninth space tourism flight. She became the 100th woman in space, and the 10th woman to fly on a suborbital spaceflight above the Kármán line.[29][30][31]

Awards

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In April 2017, Calandrelli was nominated for an Outstanding Host in a Lifestyle/Children's/Travel or Family Viewing Program[32] daytime Emmy Award for her work on Xploration Station.[33][34]

In November 2023, Calandrelli received an honorary doctorate from the engineering department of McMaster University.[35]

Advocacy

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Calandrelli uses her social media platforms and public speaking engagements to advocate for scientific literacy, the benefits of space exploration, and STEM careers, particularly for girls and women in STEM.[19][18] She has advocated for parental leave in the aerospace industry.[36][37]

In 2022, Calendrelli shared her experience of being forced to check breastfeeding supplies at an airport security checkpoint, despite these supplies being permitted by TSA guidelines. She reached out to Rep. Katie Porter, who has introduced legislation to improve handling of breastmilk and breastfeeding supplies.[38][39]

Personal life

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In January 2011, Calandrelli became a licensed amateur radio operator under the call sign KD8PKR.[40]

During her internship at NASA, she met another aerospace engineer, Tommy Franklin. They married and had two children.[41][42]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role
2014-present Xploration Outer Space Host
2017 Bill Nye Saves the World Correspondent
2020 Emily's Wonder Lab Host

Published works

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Ada Lace Adventures series

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Text by Calandrelli with Tamson Weston, illustrated by Renée Kurilla

  • Ada Lace, on the Case (August 2017)
  • Ada Lace Sees Red (August 2017)
  • Ada Lace, Take Me to Your Leader (May 2018)
  • Ada Lace and the Impossible Mission (September 2018)
  • Ada Lace and the Suspicious Artist (February 2019)
  • Ada Lace Gets Famous (October 2023)

Picture books

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  • Reach for the Stars (April 2022), text by Calandrelli, illustrated by Honee Jang

Books of science experiments

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  • Stay Curious and Keep Exploring (September 2022)
  • Stay Curious and Keep Exploring: Next Level (March 2024)

References

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  1. ^ "About".
  2. ^ a b c d e Gifford, Kelly (September 13, 2014). "Emily Calandrelli's new frontier". Boston Globe. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Krishna, Swapna. "Emily Calandrelli talks Bill Nye and STEM education". Syfy. Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
  4. ^ "About". Emily Dawn Calandrelli. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  5. ^ "MHS Distinguished Alumni". Morgantown High School. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Wood Rudulph, Heather (October 5, 2015). "Get That Life: How I Became the Host of a TV Show About Outer Space". Cosmopolitan. Hearst Communications, Inc. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  7. ^ "Already a Star, Calandrelli Tells Students to Aim High". www.nasa.gov. Emily Calandrelli : POC, Sonja Alexander : HQ:, Diedra Williams : MSFC;, Flint Wild : MSFC;, Larry Cooper : HQ;, Theresa Schwerin : IGES;, Stephanie Schierholz : HQ. Archived from the original on March 23, 2010. Retrieved 2017-10-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. ^ "MIT AeroAstro News Summer 2011". web.mit.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  9. ^ Wall, Jennifer. "Already a Star, Calandrelli Tells Students to Aim High". www.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  10. ^ Calandrelli, Emily (25 April 2018), Making science nicer, stupid, retrieved 2021-02-19
  11. ^ Speck, Emilee (2021-02-26). "Last call: Contest for first private trip on SpaceX's Crew Dragon ends soon". WKMG. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  12. ^ Harwood, Erika (October 14, 2016). "Karlie Kloss Is Teaming Up with Bill Nye". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  13. ^ "Interview: This 'Space Gal' Will Help Bill Nye Save the World". Observer. 2017-04-20. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  14. ^ Fedko, Kaley (22 August 2020). "Morgantown woman stars in own Netflix show". www.wtap.com. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  15. ^ "Emily Calandrelli leads experiment featured in 'Emily's Wonder Lab'". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  16. ^ Rigden, Clare (2020-09-12). "The TV host inspiring a new generation of women in STEM". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  17. ^ "'Emily's Wonder Lab' Star Is The Feminist Icon Your Kids Need". www.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  18. ^ a b c Marini, Gina (2024-07-17). "West Virginia native and 'Space Gal' is headed to space". WCHS. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  19. ^ a b "Emily Calandrelli". College of DuPage. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  20. ^ Kirk, Sam (April 10, 2023). "Emily Calandrelli hosting Easter Egg Roll at the White House". WBOY. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  21. ^ Rather, Joey (March 28, 2024). "Morgantown native invited back to Easter Egg Roll at the White House". WBOY. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  22. ^ "Books". Emily Dawn Calandrelli. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  23. ^ "Books". Emily Dawn Calandrelli. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  24. ^ "Reach for the Stars". Macmillan. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  25. ^ Villano, Matt (6 March 2024). "'Space Gal' Emily Calandrelli to bring science, wonder to Petaluma". Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  26. ^ Taormina, Anthony (27 September 2022). "Emily's Wonder Lab Lives on With Calandrelli's New Book 'Stay Curious and Keep Exploring'". Game Rant. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  27. ^ Tabuchi, Hiroko (11 January 2023). "The New Soldiers in Propane's Fight Against Climate Action: Television Stars". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  28. ^ "Emily Calandrelli to become first West Virginia female space traveler". 16 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  29. ^ "West Virginia native becomes first woman astronaut from Mountain State and 100th woman to go into space". WTRF. 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  30. ^ "West Virginia native Emily Calandrelli becomes 100th woman in space". WBOY.com. 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  31. ^ Robert Z. Pearlman (2024-11-22). "Blue Origin crew, including history's 100th woman to fly to space, lands safely". Space.com. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  32. ^ "Xploration Station's three hour block stem programming earns seven daytime emmy nominations". 21st Century Fox Social Impact. March 23, 2017. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  33. ^ Hensley, Katherine (April 20, 2017). "Morgantown native Emily Calandrelli Nominated for Emmy Award". The Dominion Post. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  34. ^ "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces Nominations For the 44th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards" (PDF). National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 23, 2017.
  35. ^ ""The Space Gal" Emily Calandrelli to receive honorary doctorate from McMaster Engineering – Faculty of Engineering". McMaster University Faculty Engineering. 2 Nov 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  36. ^ Allen, Presley (2024-02-14). "Emmy-award-winning TV host Emily Calandrelli speaks at WKU". WBKO. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  37. ^ WDTV News Staff (2024-07-16). "Morgantown native set to become first female astronaut from WV". WDTV. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  38. ^ Gile, Michele; Staff, KCAL News (2022-08-30). "Orange County mom helps craft legislation aiding parents breastfeeding newborns – CBS Los Angeles". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  39. ^ Brown, Elisha (2024-05-29). "A bipartisan push to make air travel easier for new parents packing breast milk and formula • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  40. ^ "Amateur License – KD8PKR – CALANDRELLI, EMILY D". fcc.gov.
  41. ^ Couch, Christina (27 April 2021). "Wonder woman". MIT Technology Review.
  42. ^ Burch, Kelly (23 October 2022). "The 'Space Gal:' I didn't know my career options growing up, so I'm passionate about showing kids they can be anything they want to be". Business Insider. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
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