The Science Whiz

Eight-year-old Enzo Monfre loves science. In fact, he created and hosts “Enzoology,” his own show on the Internet, which introduces kids to the wonders of the natural world. A resident of Austin, TX, he’s a regular at the entomology lab at the University of Texas and has enjoyed private access to the Johnson Space Center. Here, Enzo talks with New York Family about his show (along with bugs, science experiments, and his professional aspirations).

How old were you when you first became interested in science?

Probably 2 or 3. I just thought it was really neat stuff. I used to live in Wisconsin, and what was really cool is that I used to catch these amazing bugs that were there. They were these bugs called cicadas and they would come out mostly at night and fly around and sometimes smack into the ground.

We love the name “Enzoology”—how did you come up with it?

Basically what I did was put my name in front of “-ology.” There’s different types of sciences like geology, entomology, and things like that.

What is your favorite episode of “Enzoology” that you’ve done so far?

I would have to say the one about the capybara [the largest living member of the rodent family] because I really got to interact with it. Someone had a pet one named Kaplan, and we decided to do a show on it. What was kind of goofy, though, is that whenever we tried to tape me talking about the capybara, he would just walk away and off camera—I had to follow him around!

What are some of your favorite scientific topics to explore?

I would have to say entomology and paleontology. I like chemistry, too, because I like doing chemical reactions. I also like reading books on bugs, dinosaurs, and entomology.

What’s a fun science project that other kids can do at home?

Corn starch water. It’s fun because if you slap it or squeeze it, it will act like a solid, but if you put your hand on it and keep it still, it will act like a liquid. Mix together corn starch and water–it will turn into a white slime. When it dries out, it has the same texture as flour. It’s a good idea to do this little project outside because it makes a huge mess.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to study insects and arachnids—how they react in outer space. I actually want to work on a space station doing that. I definitely want to be a scientist!

To watch Enzo in action, visit Enzoology.com.