Interview with Abel Mňdez, professor of physics and astrobiology at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo. In this interview, Professor Mňdez discusses his upbringing in Puerto Rico and early interest in astronomy, his education at the University of Puerto Rico and work at Fermilab, and the early stages of his work on astrobiology with NASA. He describes the origins of the Planetary Habitability Lab at Arecibo and his work studying exoplanets for potential suitability for life. Finally, he discusses the work environment at Arecibo, the impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico, the collapse of the telescopes dish, and the potential future of the Observatory.