For Emily Calandrelli, who dubs herself The Space Gal, science is something to be explored by everyone, regardless of age or gender. The MIT-trained engineer, popular children’s YouTuber, host of the 2020 Netflix series Emily’s Wonder Lab, bestselling author, and 100th woman in space has built a career translating complex concepts into hands-on, family-friendly experiences. Now based in Northern Virginia, Calandrelli is continuing her mission to make learning STEM concepts fun and approachable.
How did you start making science content for kids?
I started off making science content for adults. When I graduated from MIT, I was asked to host a show in 2014 called Xploration Outer Space, and I’ve been hosting it ever since. I was a correspondent on Bill Nye Saves the World. But there’s not a lot of opportunities for women to make science content for adults in Hollywood — only 1% of all science shows are solo hosted by women. So, children’s TV became a more conducive avenue. I started pitching shows for kids and posting videos of my ideas on YouTube, like how to make slime or a fizzy rocket.
What are some favorite science experiments you’ve conducted?
The hands-on ones that are simple and easy that everyone can do are the best. The most popular one for my TV show is [making] oobleck, which is just cornstarch and water. And I like that one because it’s the most accessible, it’s the cheapest, it’s the easiest to do. Most people already have the materials at home, and it is a fun little fluid called a non-Newtonian fluid that can be both a liquid and a solid, depending on how much pressure you add to it.
What can parents do to get their kids interested in science?
What I found is that if kids, early on, encounter challenges in the classroom and in high-pressure environments, they don’t feel super comfortable around STEM. They often get it in their mind that they’re not good at STEM, that they’re just not a math person. One way to combat that is to try to teach STEM at home so it’s not the first time that they’ve been introduced to these topics when they’re in their class.
In addition to that, it’s important for parents to meet their kids where they’re at. If their child loves reading chapter books, introduce them to STEM-themed chapter books. If they love watching YouTube, introduce them to role models on YouTube that look like them, that talk about science and math. My show, Emily’s Wonder Lab, created an entire generation of little kids who dream of becoming scientists because it looks like fun.
Why did you move to Northern Virginia?
I’m from West Virginia, and so this is a bit like a coming home event. It’s partially because my family is nearby. I have two kids with one on the way, and my family is going to be very helpful. But also, my husband works in defense tech, and this is where his job is as well.
What NoVA-area museums do you like to visit?
The [Smithsonian] Air and Space Museum by Dulles — that’s one my family and I adore. The National Children’s Museum in DC is also a favorite.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Feature image of Emily Calandrelli by Morgan Demeter
This story originally ran in our May 2026 issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
