'I probably now have a collection of maybe 60 dogs,' the professor revealed.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on June 24, 2022. It has since been updated.
The start of a new semester of school always brings with it a never-ending list of things to remember. From a barrage of new names to important assignment dates and other tedious details—it's a challenge for both students and professors. This was what prompted Dr. Marie-Amélie George to come up with an adorable hack to help remember her students' names. She asked them to send photos of their pets doing homework. "Well, when we start at the beginning of the semester, I tell them what the class is going to be about. And then I tell them a little bit about me," she told Good Morning America about how it all started.
Happy 10th birthday to my sweet pup Henry! He’s been a wonderful companion, going on walks with me when I need breaks (and reminding me to take breaks when he needs walks!).
— Dr. Marie-Amélie George (@ProfMAGeorge) May 7, 2021
I got him when I started my PhD program, so happy almost 10 years in academia to me! pic.twitter.com/1il7hi3U7A
"Since I'm standing in front of them, they don't really need a photograph of me on the side deck, so I put pictures of my really adorable dog. His name is Henry. He is a Schnauzer-Poodle mix. Empirical studies would show that he is the best dog. One of the students sent me pictures of her dog doing the reading that we are assigned for that week. So, I included that in the slides and students were really into it," George continued. "I probably now have a collection of maybe 60 dogs. Some are at the computer. Some are reading... I do see—slightly fewer—but some cats, and I have a great picture of a hermit crab who is studying hard as well."
I ask my students to send me photos of their dogs doing class work. It’s an under-appreciated photography genre. pic.twitter.com/oxXFicXmue
— Dr. Marie-Amélie George (@ProfMAGeorge) April 15, 2020
Dr. George's collection grew exponentially back in 2020 when she shared her lighthearted assignment on Twitter. What seemed like the entire internet jumped at the challenge and started sharing awww-dorable snaps of their pets "working" or "studying." Here are some of our favorites:
Tigo probably woulda done better in Computer Architecture than me tbh pic.twitter.com/kx8NGOVnTk
— Juan Cantor (@Twocan_1) April 16, 2020
I've been informed by my social secretary that she's penciling in extra walks and belly rubs for the foreseeable future. pic.twitter.com/3zP2kmKkoA
— Deb E (@The_Nyxed) April 16, 2020
My dog studying canine anatomy a couple of weeks ago 🐕 pic.twitter.com/FpT1hYbcxR
— 😎 (@plowrong) April 16, 2020
He has his own work area.... A bit small though. pic.twitter.com/AxT505vgob
— Ryanoss (@ryanoss123) April 16, 2020
In lieu of a dog, may I offer a research assistant guinea pig? pic.twitter.com/0SEFZHJJ0j
— Georgia Grainger (@sniphist) April 16, 2020
Learning how to play the Viola via osmosis. She tells me that she's practicing how to play by ear. pic.twitter.com/37achfygVE
— BlueSnow❄😷🌎🏴🇺🇦🏳️🌈🐈⬛🐈🌊💙♌️ (@bleusneaux) April 16, 2020
Entering data into his spreadsheet pic.twitter.com/aMxlBfLT43
— Kerri Miller (@kerri_millerr) April 16, 2020
Finn is not a very good study buddy pic.twitter.com/bvgK6gtRzc
— heather ツ (@goldnatmosphere) April 17, 2020
fuck it, Philip doing my scanning 🖨 pic.twitter.com/8iQMuMFSp8
— STREAM MAKE DUA BY MINALIONESS🔊 (@AmariBailey) April 17, 2020
When your cat wants you to know the dog ate your homework ... again ... pic.twitter.com/0nY4C20the
— Ali Van Zee (@alikat747) April 16, 2020
Sometimes, studying is just SO tiring! pic.twitter.com/ZWVGrhNKDg
— Sally Savory (@SallySavory) April 18, 2020
I was teaching Chuck cat not a dog , to appreciate binging Blue Planet 2, he chose the method just leaks into your brain while you're sleeping on the Kindle. (There will be a pop quiz...) both my cats think they're guard dogs.... pic.twitter.com/EsGP7w5Idd
— Brice Live Sketch Co (@live_brice) April 16, 2020