What's the attraction of ballet and karate? I do them for stress relief, and of course to keep physically fit. Having been in ballet performances and karate tournaments helped me in the classroom as a teacher, because as a teacher, one is really performing. As a teacher standing in front of the classroom, one has to be "on," and through ballet performances and karate tournaments, I gained that stage experience. There is a very similar "buzz" one gets in all those kinds of performances -- teaching, ballet and karate.

What do you expect from the in science? I have great hope. I'm known to be a very optimistic person. in his inaugural address. I was thrilled. I jumped up and down. He certainly has chosen a dynamite slate of top scientists to advise him. How does that translate into federal funding for research? I'm keeping my fingers crossed.