About Tom

Hi, my name is Tom. I’m a promoter of happiness from Chicago. I believe that a firm understanding of nature & science will make people happier and provide a better future for humanity. I’ve been nurtured as a Molecular Biologist (DNA), but my nature is that of an Anthropologist (people). Adventures in life have put me in hospitals, scientific research institutions, and non-profits around Chicagoland as a PhD deserter, employee, patient, salesman & marketer, social media consultant and volunteer.

letUbeU blog posts are an expanding data set of my journey through life (via photographs, video, and odd thoughts). Experiencing the natural world and using the process of science to manufacture happiness is what my life is all about. I live life by 3 difficult rules:

1. Be true to yourself
2. Treat others as you want to be treated
3. Live every day like it will be your last

Basically, be honest, be kind, and have fun!

Credit: www.erikajohnsonphoto.com

I promote happiness because in 2006, a new roommate moved in with me–Psoriatic Arthritis. I’ve had better roommates, but we can’t seem to separate. This major source of unhappiness (joint pain) in my life must be balanced with a healthy dose of happiness. Therefore I spend my time locating environments with happy people or helping unhappy people find happiness.

To make money I started Ruugy Media. We teach, strategize, and manage social media for businesses and people, with a special interest in non-profit science & nature organizations. I’m also working on a business to inject happiness into scientific research. While spending time as a PhD student, Life Science sales & marketing rep, and hospital patient, I recognized many inefficient processes. Identifying and quantifying these inefficiencies and improving the quality of scientific research is my goal. This means quicker, more effective treatments for the diseases and problems on Planet Earth.

Follow along at this blog, my twitter accounts (@letUbeU, @Science_Chicago, @RuugyMedia), or Facebook page as I demonstrate how you can find happiness with a gram of science and an ounce of life. People who motivate me: Carl Sagan, Brian Cox, Nelson Mandela, Paul Farmer, Ami Vitale & Tony Hsieh.

Thanks for reading, here are a few bits of data about me:

• Chicago has been my home for 11 years, Chicagoland for 31 years
• I volunteer with the Chicago Conservation Corps, Rush Medical Center, Green Festival, UIC, and The Field Museum
• Trance music is my favorite pain medicine
• I always leave room for randomness
• I have a wicked collection of science t-shirts: Tom’s Shirt Collection

If you like science or your environment, and enjoy making people smile, our paths will cross at some point. See you at the intersection! Until then: welcome to letUbeU.