August 1 marked the 30-year anniversary of the Ask Dr. Universe program. To celebrate, I caught up with Dr. Universe to chat about how far she’s come — and what it’s like to be Washington State University’s resident science cat since 1996.
How did you come to live and work at WSU?
Dr. Universe: As a science cat, I’ve had an unusual life. Like most wild cats, I spent 12 weeks cuddled up with my mom and litter mates, learning cat things, before I set out on my own, ready to sink my claws into some adventure.
I was uniquely inquisitive about the world around me, so I started my journey where knowledge-thirsty humans do — at WSU. There, I met Universe magazine editor Tim Steury. He saw my paw-tential, and we began working together to answer science questions sent in by curious kids.
How have things changed over the past 30 years?
Dr. Universe: I was a young cat when I found my home at WSU, so I’ve certainly changed over the years. Today, my program includes a weekly, syndicated column and an award-winning podcast featuring WSU scientists and my cougar kitten friend, Cosmo. I also partner with faculty on grant-funded projects and work with classrooms to teach kids how to do science communication.
What hasn’t changed is my mission. WSU belongs to the people of Washington state — including kids. It’s an honor to wake up on campus every morning, ready to connect young people with the paw-some science happening at their university.
What’s the best part of your job?
Dr. Universe: My young audience is incredibly sophisticated — and I’m fur real blown away by the questions that pour in from all over the world. I love digging through those questions and hunting for the best faculty to help me answer them. Scientists usually specialize, so I’m lucky that I get to learn about different science fields every week and find out about science happening at WSU right meow. My favorite thing is knowing that my column or podcast might inspire even more questions.
What’s your favorite question ever?
Dr. Universe: There are about 600 posts on the Ask Dr. Universe website and 6 seasons of the podcast. It would be hard to pick just one! But my favorite questions are the ones that seem simple but then have complicated answers. I also love when faculty or science librarians walk me through how they find the answer. There’s a lot of misinformation out there, and I learn so much when experts show me how to get my paws on the most reliable information.
You can check out this week’s question or the most recent podcast on the Ask Dr. Universe website. That’s also where you can help curious kids send in science questions. Who knows where your questions will take us next!
