What was your first job and what did you learn from it?

I started out as a postdoctoral fellow studying marine mammals to understand how they process sound biochemically. What I learned from this was the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to biological questions. Importance of thinking creatively(out of the box, so to speak) and applying sound scientific principles to solving problems. Thus, what began for me as an analysis of the chemical composition of marine mammal tissue led, through collaboration with biologists, chemists, biochemists and biophysicists, to the piecing together of a crucial survival mechanism in turbid waters where visibility is poor. The crux of what this experience taught me is that when we go beyond our discipline and beyond traditional thinking, and really begin "sleuthing" for clues, Nature unlocks its secrets for us.

What inspired you to choose your current field or the position you currently hold?

My love for the unusual allowed me to seize unusual opportunities, to try new things, to move in new directions. I never charted my career path, never planned to be where I am today; instead I took on what exciting opportunities came along. For instance, in mid-70s when the Alaska Pipeline issue came up, my interest in interactions of chemicals in biological systems helped me steer my research in a new direction, i.e., how do marine organisms survive catastrophic/chronic chemical spills? My untraditional nature and my openness to possibilities have allowed me to embrace exciting new opportunities throughout my career.

Why would you encourage other women or young women to choose careers in your field? What advice would you give someone who wanted to choose your career?

Although my career began in chemistry, I soon became fascinated with how chemicals interact in biological systems. Studying biological systems is exciting because, through it, we understand ourselves and are able to unlock important questions facing the human species. My advice to young women entering science is that enthusiasm should be the first and foremost criteria. Rather than choosing a field of science on the basis of job opportunities, I would urge young women to choose on the basis of what enthuses them. Enthusiasm opens opportunities and leads to excellence.

What motivates or inspires you on a daily basis in your field or job?

I am particularly inspired by watching young scientists' eyes open up when they come to our laboratory and see a dull theoretical question become an exciting reality. I am also inspired by the storytelling nature of science. The questions of scientific inquiry - the what, when, how, where, and what for - are pieced together by the scientist like a storyteller pieces together elements of a narrative. The scientist uses the skills of a detective, an analyst, and a narrator to unlock and communicate nature's stories. I am deeply committed to science education, which is also storytelling. Conveying the importance and relevance of science to people of many different socioeconomic levels, without being patronizing and without oversimplification, dilution, or distortion, is one of the scientist's greatest responsibilities. Beyond that, we must instill the importance of scientific "thinking" in everyday experiences and in all walks of life. It is not just "doing" science but using scientific thinking that makes us better people.

Why is your field important to society?

The field of fisheries science is critical to society not only because it examines the interactions between environmental and human factors but also because fish are the greatest source of protein worldwide. The social dynamic of fisheries research lies in preserving and enhancing fisheries resources for the future while looking for benefits, both nutritional and economic, to society from those resources. The ecosystems of oceanic and anadromous resources constitute 3/4 of the earth's surface, with the coastal ecosystem particularly critical. The signals of environmental stresses on these vast ecosystems can serve as indicators of the health of our human environment as well.

What is your vision for your field's future? What are some of the exciting things to watch for in your field?

My vision for the future of fisheries science is the challenge of managing conflicting uses of ocean resources by an expanding human population. This means balancing healthy ocean ecosystems with the healthy economy of our technological society. The challenges are multi-scale: biological, ecosystemic, socioeconomic, and global. Global population increases mean greater demands for wise and fair uses of natural resources. It is simply not viable to ignore either the health of the ecosystem or the health of the economy. Also, science has been demystified. Through advanced communication technologies, scientific knowledge is more and more accessible by the public. This public, with an increasingly sophisticated understanding of science, is holding scientists far more accountable for the quality of their information and the social impacts of their decisions. I feel strongly that the young scientific workforce must be prepared to handle state-of-the-art technologies and interdisciplinary approaches to face the challenges of the future. They must be skilled in hard, analytical thinking yet with a practical bent that can respond to the fluid problems of ecosystems and societies.

What values are the most important to you, and what do you value in others? How do you prioritize these values in your daily life?

I value, first and foremost, integrity of thinking. This means not compromising scientific principles for short-term profit or political gain; it means holding "means" accountable and not just "ends"; being consistent without being inflexible; making hard decisions and being publicly accountable for those decisions; explaining without sidestepping or appeasing. Integrity of thinking also means that one's professional and personal values are the same, including respect and compassion for others.

What do you think are the most important character traits to develop in order to succeed professionally?

Enthusiasm not only for one's chosen field of science but also for the opportunity to work with others in that field; fairness and compassion; valuing self and fellow workers and family. I cannot overemphasize that respect for others, including colleagues, junior staff, and support staff, is critical to the long-term effectiveness of one's career in science.

Who is your hero, mentor, or person you most admire, and why?

I have no single hero, although I have admiration for many teachers, colleagues, and junior staff persons with whom I've worked throughout my career. In fact, I have found that choosing one or two role models, or making someone a hero, often leads to disappointment. I admire qualities rather than a single individual. After all, people are a mix of many qualities, and very few if any people have all the traits that I admire. However, if I were to name the persons in my life with the most heroic traits who have influenced me, they would be my grandmother and my high school principal, who were two most emancipated women I have met. And my husband who is my best friend and the most emancipated man I have encountered.

What is your favorite book, and why?

Again, there is no single book that I would call my favorite. I have been influenced by many philosophical treatises of eastern philosophy, the "Bhagavad-Gita", Upanishad's Vedic treatises, and also the work of Joseph Campbell.

What book would you recommend to someone who knows nothing about your field, but would like to know more about it?

• "Chemistry in the Service of Man" by Alexander Findlay
• "Life Itself, Its origin and nature" by Francis Crick
• "The Ocean World" by Jacques Cousteau
• "Our Changing Earth" by Thomas Canby
• "Valence Bond" by Linus Pauling
• "Metabolism of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Aquatic Environment" by Usha Varanasi

What technology has improved your life professionally or personally?

Certainly, computer technology and the revolution in information exchange have improved all our lives. Most importantly, it has leveled the field and blurred the differences between haves and have-nots, between the sexes, between races and cultures. For example, any small village in India now has Internet access.

What are your future goals?

To continue to enjoy challenges, to grow, to be a mentor. Each and every day is a fulfillment of my dreams and goals. I only hope to bring more wisdom to my work and to my relationships with people.

What do you do to relax?

I love seeing beautiful things, whether natural or manmade. Gardening, art museums, and architecture are all visual pleasures that I find both relaxing and enriching.