At the Bitesize Bio blog, Nick has a post on his "top 15 reasons for being a scientist." If you have a minute, check it out, and add your own as well. Our favorites: "owning a Bunsen burner" and "people believe what you say (trust me I’m a 'doctor')." But GTO takes issue with #2 on the list, "Conferences… see the world for free." Maybe we're not normal, but when GTO goes to a conference, that's three days of never seeing sunlight.