Some of us have dedicated our careers to the cancer field, some of us have dedicated our careers to helping people use technology to improve their lives and some of us just like helping people. We’re really proud of our work and our team here at Navigating Cancer.
Meet Arthur Kepler, a member of our Site Reliability Engineering team:
Briefly describe your role.
I’m a member of the SRE team, which stands for “Site Reliability Engineering.” SRE is a concept invented by Google, in which software engineering best practices are applied to internal technical operations. This approach lends well to high reliability, scalability, and automation of tools and systems where the “customers” are other engineers in the company. But above all, we fanatically support Navigating Cancer’s customers’ technical interoperability with our products.
Having spent my first year at Navigating Cancer on the Data & Interoperability team has given me insight into the complexity of our integrations and the areas where we can most improve.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration by being in nature. Whether it’s backpacking in the Cascades, or kayaking in the Puget Sound, the peace and tranquility in nature helps me decompress, collect my thoughts, and find mindfulness about what matters.
What’s your favorite technology and why?
My favorite technology is the world’s most successful operating system: Linux! Created by a university student tinkering, it developed into a worldwide open source project, not owned by any company, and it has completely changed the technology world. You’ll find it’s mascot, Tux the Penguin, sitting next to my desk, in ceramic statue form.
What’s your favorite app and why?
Google Maps – specifically the topographical map layer. 🙂
Star Trek or Star Wars?
While I like the quotable references from Star Wars, I appreciate Star Trek’s vision of a potential future which showcases the best of humanity, science, and exploration.
We need this vision, even if somewhat Utopian, to empower and inspire those dreamers who seek to make it possible.
What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not at work?
Though it’s more a labor of love than a pleasure so far, I’ve been working intensely on restoring a 1976 speedboat. I’ve learned a ton about Fiberglass work, and really looking forward to it’s being completed!
Little-known fact about you that would surprise people?
I’ve been to Burning Man four times! It’s so much fun to get 50,000 artists, creators, hackers, visionaries, and friends together in one place.