Science snared me early, and it was a natural fit. I was that annoying kid who loved books about dinosaurs, evolution and astronomy. I thought the natural world was fun and quirky, and I could not shut up about it. My folks bought a set of encyclopedias, which I monopolized as my new vehicle for exploration.

I became a biologist and entered the laboratory. I probed the genetic secrets of spiny fish, mustard weeds and fuzzy protozoa. But research left me unfulfilled.

Quietly, I began to explore. I spoke about science to community and church groups, dabbled in blogging, and found myself as happy as I was when I had my nose buried in those encyclopedias. Dinosaurs are back on the table, as is the rest of nature. I'm ready to be annoying again.