As a professional scientist and science educator, I am passionate about the intersection of science and society. Science Fiction’s focus on that intersection has always drawn me to it and my love of Science Fiction has always provided much of the impetus for my own career. I am an Associate Professor Emeritus from the Department of Physics at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where I have taught since 2004. Prior to coming to SIUE, I was Director of Laser Development at the Nevada Terawatt Facility in Reno, NV. I have also worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Air Force Research Laboratory (as well as several other places). I hold a Ph.D. in Optical Sciences (specializing in laser physics and quantum optics) and an MS in Physics from the University of New Mexico, and a BS in Physics from the University of Arizona. My wife and I live in an earth-shelter house (think "hobbit hole") in rural Illinois with (at the moment) two cats, one dog, and whatever has crept in when we weren't looking.