Emily Calandrelli, a WVU alumna and MIT-engineer turned Emmy-nominated science TV host, will give the keynote address during the Competition of VEX Educational Robotics to Advance Girls Education in Charleston on May 24. (WVU Photo)
WHAT: West Virginia University, along with partners the NASA Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility and the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, is hosting a robotics competition for middle school girls as part of the Competition of VEX Educational Robotics to Advance Girls Education
WHO: Competitors, spectators and other guests will hear from state, national and industry leaders, including a keynote speech from “Space Gal” Emily Calandrelli before the competition
WHEN: Tuesday, May 24
WHERE: Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences, 1 Clay Square, Charleston
Tentative schedule of events
9 a.m. Competition team arrival
10 a.m. Welcome and remarks by Carolyn Long, WVU Tech president, and Dr. Michelle Foster, Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation president, along with video messages from Gordon Gee, WVU president, and others
10:40 a.m. National Center for Women & Information Technology Awards
11 a.m. Remarks and introduction of Emily Calandrelli from Bob Welch, general manager, engine, Toyota Motor Manufacturing WV
11:05 a.m. Keynote with Emily Calandrelli
1-5 p.m. Competition
Sponsors for the event include the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, Toyota Motor Manufacturing WV, the WV Higher Education Policy Commission, the National Center for Women & Information Technology, the NASA Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility, the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences, TechConnect, WV Space Grant Consortium, WVU and the WVU Office of Corporate Relations.
About COVERAGE: Competition of VEX Educational Robotics to Advance Girls Education is a project to inspire and support female middle and high school students to pursue STEM careers in West Virginia. Through attendance and participation in the robotics clubs and competitions, these students are predicted to become more knowledgeable and interested in STEM disciplines. COVERAGE was initially funded through the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.
About Emily Calandrelli: Emily Calandrelli is a WVU alumna and MIT-engineer turned Emmy-nominated science TV host. She’s the host and co-executive producer of “Emily’s Wonder Lab” on Netflix, featured as a correspondent on Netflix’s “Bill Nye Saves the World” and executive producer and host of FOX's “Xploration Outer Space.” Emily is the author of the science chapter book series, “The Ada Lace Adventures.” The third book in the series was launched to the International Space Station through the Story Time from Space program. Emily’s debut picture book “Reach for the Stars” was released in April and her first experiment book, “Stay Curious and Keep Exploring,” comes out in September.
Emily's educational background is in engineering and policy. At WVU, she received bachelor’s degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering and was awarded the Goldwater Scholarship for research and the Truman Scholarship for policy work. She received her master’s from MIT in aeronautics and astronautics as well as technology and policy.
-WVU-
jrw 5/20/22
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Director, University Relations
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304-561-8030; jennifer.wood@mail.wvu.edu
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