How is everything going today?

• Good!

Out of all the specimens you have in your lab, which one is your favorite?

• My favorite is this barnacle I bought at the beach, and I like it because it’s pretty and it reminds me of the beach - and who doesn’t like the beach! 

Piper the Rabbit is a treasured asset of the Notre Dame biology classroom, but unfortunately she has not returned this year. How is she doing?

• Piper’s doing fine, she’s hanging out in the basement living her best life. She lost a little bit of weight, so she’s doing good, but she misses the attention, and hopefully I can bring her back sometime this year. 

In his interview, your colleague Mr. Erik Rominger said yes to milk. How do you feel about this bold statement?

•  I am very happy about the fact that Mr Rominger said yes to milk, because milk is like a perfect nutritional beverage - it gives you calcium, electrolytes, lactose and other nice nutrients!

Spaghetti, Ravioli, or Tortellini?

• Probably Ravioli, I really like Ravioli!

Last question: If a hollow aluminum cube of side length 45 cm and 18 cm side thickness is submerged 15 m deep in a container of pure glycerol, what magnitude of buoyant force will the cube experience?

• That sounds like a physical science question, and I don’t do physical science; I’d have to refer you to one of the other teachers in this department. I’m sure Mrs. Williams or Mr. Milliken would be happy to answer it!