Interview Series 2007: Dr. Dora Pinou

Author: Frank LaBanca, Ed.D.

Dr. Dora Pinou is a professor at Western Connecticut State University. She is in the Biology Department and is a herpetologist by training.

Read about herpetology here.

Dr. Pinou has her own website. Read about her here.
Her research interests are here.

Using the information above as well as your own interests and further research, compose appropriate, relevant questions to ask Dr. Pinou when she visits us on May 3rd. Questions should be conceptual, in-depth, and original (do not repeat other students’ questions). Post them here so we can share our ideas and thoughts.

Our interview will conclude with the “Big10.” . . . a series of rapid-fire, quick-response questions based on The Pivot Questionnaire. You will probably recognize them as similar to the 10 questions James Lipton asks of his interviewees on the television program Inside the Actor’s Studio.

01. What is your favorite word?
02. What is your least favorite word?
03. What gets your creative juices flowing?
04. Who has made the biggest impact on your life? (name and relation)
05. What is your favorite scientific word?
06. What sound or noise do you love?
07. What sound or noise do you hate?
08. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
09. What profession would you not like to do?
10. What phrase or message should all people know?

16 Responses to “Interview Series 2007: Dr. Dora Pinou”

  1. Alex Albritton Says:

    How did the snakes arrive in North America and how have they contributed to the regions bio diversity?

    What got you interested in the fieled of Herpetology.

  2. drew t. Says:

    What is the most interesting place in the world that you have studied reptiles?

    What is the largest snake that you have ever seen?

    Are you worried about the effects of global warming on amphibians, especially because they’re skin can be very permeable and they’re health an excellent indicator of the environment around them?

  3. maricate c Says:

    What are some of the current goals or projects for the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles?

    Do you enjoy research and field work more than teaching? Do you enjoy them both equally? Do you like to combine the two with the help of your students?

    What has been your most memorable field work experience?

  4. jason h Says:

    What is the difference between the snakes you are studying and snakes from South America or Asia?

    How is the ultrastructure of a snake different from other reptiles?

  5. Ivan Says:

    Besides scale microstructures and reproductive organ anatomies, what other factors commonly separate different species of snakes?

    How do the snake scales affect the survival rates of the snakes for different living conditions, and does this have an effect on changes in species anatomy evolutionarily, over time?

  6. Wesley H. Says:

    You web site said that you are working to understand the origins and phylogenetic relationships of seven North American snakes. What I’m wondering is can all variations of snakes be traced back to one species of snake or did multiple species evolve separately from each other?

    Your web site had a picture labeled Latemeria by Betsy A. Golden. There was no link and I’m curious as to what the giant lizardfish thing in the tank is.

  7. Crystal Says:

    Is there a certain type of toxic secretion that each reptile gives off?

    What kind of snakes are you using for your study and why did you choose them?

  8. scott r Says:

    1. My friend has a bearded dragon, he says when it is older he can feed it mice. Is this true?
    2. How has Steve Irwin influenced your life?
    3. I was watching national geographic once and they were making anti venom. One of the steps was ejecting venom in to a horse. Why did they do this?
    4. Why don’t they have anti venom for sea snakes even though they are one of the most poisons snakes on earth?
    5. Who would win in a fight a black mamba or a sea snake?

  9. allison c. Says:

    I’ve heard about “flying” or “gliding” snakes. Why have the adapted this behavior, and what is its purpose?

    How do sea snakes sustain their body temperature in the water?

  10. Matt B Says:

    1)why did you decide to become a teacher instead of a field researcher?

    2)what would you say is your favorie reptile and why?

  11. Grant Kurtz Says:

    similar to what Allison said, how were snakes able to adapt to their environment enough so that they were able to glide through the air? I have found that the ability of snakes to do this is (to my knowledge) generally kept in the rain forest, was the demand to move faster to keep up with prey the reason that snakes evolved to glide in the air?

    Since your research is involved with snakes, do you actively take part in programs to help raise public awareness of the differences between lethal and non-lethal snakes? I once thought that all snakes were dangerous until i was taught otherwise. I am curious because I think it is something that should be taught to the general public about.

  12. Pinou blog | Charlestonslip Says:

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