The Joy of Science

I have been thinking a lot about the joy of science. Because science is seen as rational, scientists are often viewed as dispassionate by the general public and in the media. This is funny, because in my view scientists are some of the most passionate people I know. That passion typically comes with serious overtones but to me science is just fun. It is so great to have that aha! moment, to be able to explore the world, to create new technologies, to constantly learn new things. It's like being Indiana Jones and MacGyver only without the big rock or people trying to kill you. I think so often as scientists, especially in academia, we forget the joy of it. I hope that I always remember.

As Carl Sandburg once said, "Let joy kill you, stay away from the little deaths."