Summer conferences are always a great deal of fun. I admit while I in general I do not travel well, that I do enjoy myself at such times.

This summer is shaping up to be a good one. I’ve already been invited to present at 2 different conferences already on some of my x-ray scattering work. And for a person in my situation (looking for a faculty position), being an invited speaker at respected conferences is a great way to advertise. In fact I suspect it’s more or less a requirement for most physics faculty positions. Aside from the direct interaction with people from far and wide, it also looks very good on a CV.