We create scientific cultures. Do we create ones in which we can grow and develop? Creating work environments that include who we are—passionate, curious, playful human beings—is my passion. I have, and we can, create communities where inclusion fuels excellence, where win-win scenarios are the norm and one’s expertise and offerings do not require the exclusion of others.

Movement is created through choices we make on how we live, think, walk and work in the world. The choice may be simple, the impact unknown or unknowable. Yet, we can choose to move.

To do improvisational theater together, one has to build an environment in which it is okay for adults to be silly and weird with one another. It is risky to play in professional settings. We work years on creating our professional character and to do something that is counter to that character is to take a risk. An important quality of risk-forward environments is being able to fail.

I have always wanted to be a scientist in a position to counter the misuse of science or science-like studies. Although I did not know of his work at the time, I wanted to be my version of Clair Patterson (Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey). For me, there were two scientific “misuses” that shaped my desire for a scientific career: The Mismeasure of Man, by Stephen J.