Jane Goodall. She's inspired me so much since I was young. When I was a kid and people would ask the standard "what do you want to be when you grow up?", I answered "Jane Goodall, but with kitties." I've strayed from the research biology path a bit, but she's still a hero of mine. I've seen her twice in lectures and they were always fantastic.

As I delve into environmental and conservation education, people like Steve Irwin, Jeff Corwin and especially John Muir have also taken spots as personal heroes to me.

Non-professionally, I consider George Takei to be a bit of a hero as well. To be as well known as he is and to be such an active proponent of gay rights is so awesome. Also Joel Salatin and his family for helping to push the "beyond organic" and polyculture, local farms movement more into the mainstream.

That got long. ^^'