I find an immense amount of pleasure in understanding and appreciating the natural world. I'm fascinated by beautiful mathematical structures in nature, the wonders of evolution, magical landscapes created by geological processes, and similar things. I enjoy reading about the natural world, watching documentaries (like the ones by David Attenborough) and exploring the great outdoors.

I have recently become very excited about a new way of experiencing nature — from the water. I enjoy whitewater kayaking (enough that I am now certified by the ACA to teach!) and I've explored several beautiful rivers in the North East and run some fun rapids. I also enjoy exploring nature on foot, and here again the North East offers a multitude of spectacular hikes with amazing geology. I love to travel, and thanks to several conferences and summer schools, I've been able to see and experience some wonderful places. Below is a picture of the snowy ridge that begins the long hike to Mt. Blanc. I love to take photographs of places and people. Here are some.

As for the indoors, I enjoy listening to music of all different kinds, and even pretend to play some. I spent some time in my early teens learning to play Carnatic Classical music on the violin. I learned to play the guitar in college and am trying to teach myself to play the piano right now whenever I find some time. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to sing in the Rutgers University Choir for two semesters. It was a surreal experience to be a part of the performance of Gabriel Fauré's Requiem. I intend to go back to singing in a choir at some point!

I also enjoy cooking and find it a very relaxing activity, and like to experiment with spices and cuisines. I like coffee, enough to roast my own beans. It's easy, quick, and makes for some truly delicious coffee! I buy my green coffee from Sweet Marias.

I like to keep in touch with recent developments in fields of science other than my own, in particular Genetics and Evolution. I have also spent time reading books about this, two noted ones being "Molecular Biology of the Cell" which is a most excellent textbook, and Richard Dawkins' mammoth "The Ancestor's Tale". Fiction is also on my reading list every now and then.

All of the above happens in whatever time is left over after my research and teaching.