I grew up in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and did my undergrad in physics and astronomy at the University of Minnesota. My hobbies have variously included hiking, biking, ultimate frisbee, lindy hop, and keeping tropical freshwater fish in my office. I am of the strong opinion that extreme cold such as that found in Minnesota and Canadian winters feels better than the mild-yet-humid cold of marginally-warmer climates, and that having strong seasonal climate variations builds character.