The modern renaissance man, Dan Barry GS '80 has been inventor, astronaut and doctor

An astronaut who has logged four space walks, an inventor who holds five patents, a robot designer and a doctor, Dan Barry GS '80 has entered yet another exciting role — as a competitor on "Survivor: Panama – Exile Island," airing Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CBS.

After a long and varied career — from the halls of academia to outer space — Barry has decided to test his mettle on the notorious reality show.

"Now that he is retired as an astronaut, he thought, 'What can I do?' " Barry's niece Ann Easley said.

During the first four episodes, Barry has already formulated a specific strategy.

There are a total of 16 competitors on "Survivor" and when the show began, the group was split into four four-person teams. Barry, 52, forged alliances with his three "older men" teammates and later encouraged his team to recruit a fifth, an "older woman," to their group.

"He's trying to get five people to agree that they will not vote each other off," Easley, who was appointed by Barry to speak for him until he is voted off or wins, said. "It's a really neat strategy."

Barry's plan, if successful, will keep him in the game until his allies are the only ones remaining. "That's when everything can start imploding," Easley explained.

Even so, Easley said she thinks Barry has a good chance of winning because he has kept his integrity, giving no reason for other participants to dislike him.

"We think that, so far, he's the most stand-up person in terms of being loyal and being honest," Easley said. "I don't see him doing a lot of backstabbing on that show, which is kind of what that show is made of."

Barry was a "Survivor" fan before he even came on the show.

"Anyone who knows my uncle knows that he is always up for a good game, loves to play games, loves to solve puzzles, and his mathematical brilliance made him decide that "Survivor" would be a great way to challenge himself both mentally and physically," Easley said.

This was not the first big change Barry made in his life.

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After receiving a bachelor's degree from Cornell University, Barry moved to Princeton, where he earned two masters degrees and a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science.

In 2001, he was listed as one of the 20th century's 100 Most Notable Princeton Graduate School Alumni.

Easley said she remembered going to visit him on the East Coast when she was younger.

"We all had stickers from Princeton. He used to pass out stickers saying 'here's the Princeton mascot, put them all over your house,' " she added.

After earning his Princeton doctorate, Barry continued on to the University of Miami Medical School, where he received his M.D. He then traveled to the University of Michigan as a resident and eventually professor. Though e was offered tenure at Michigan in 1992, he decided to go to NASA instead and completed training to be a mission specialist on a Space Shuttle flight crew. He soon logged 734 hours in space, going on three space flights and four space walks. In 2005, he retired as an astronaut and promptly started his own robotics company.

Now he's on TV, and in this newest challenge, his family will support him regardless of his success. "The family is excited for him and we're rooting for him," Easley said. "We know he's got the brain and we know he's got the brawn."