Jennifer's letter, answered by Jennifer Miksis-Olds, a Researcher from the Applied Research Lab at Penn State   (Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania)

Dear Jennifer,

My name is also Jennifer, and I am a marine biologist from Penn State out on the Oscar Dyson for a 2 week cruise.  I use sound to study animal life in the ocean. By listening to sound in the ocean, we can tell when specific species of marine mammal are around, how fast the wind is blowing, and whether the water is covered with ice. Its amazing how much you can learn just by listening.  We listen with an underwater microphone called a hydrophone.

So far on this trip, we have seen fin whales, humpbacks, gray whales, ringed seals, spotted seals, and a pair of bearded seals. No puffins. The only place I have ever seen puffins myself was off the northern coast of Maine. 

In answer to your questions:

1. My name is Dr. Jennifer Miksis-Olds
2. My favorite color is pink. Yes, people laugh at that, but I love pink nonetheless.
3. My favorite animal is a giraffe.
4. Pets, I have a lot of. I have a retired racing greyhound who is black and white. His racing name was Crystal Macaroni, but we just call him Mac. I have a 25 pound cat named Zeke, and a 16 pound cat named Surry. I have a knack for growing large cats.

I also have four children. Madelyn is 4, Molly is 3, Robert is 3, and Mary Ellen is 2. It is a lot of work to have a career and family, but it is worth the effort!

All the best,

Jennifer