Why am I doing this?

I thoroughly enjoyed being in Hannover last month for the Deutscher MBE Workshop. As always the event was well organised and informative. On the technical front I would highlight the work on the diverse materials and structures aimed at reducing the power consumption in a wide range of devices and circuits. In addition to the specific content of the papers, I was perhaps even more intrigued, and pleased, to note that virtually all of the presentations commenced with a brief statement of the motivation behind doing the work. The question 'Why am I doing this?' has the merit and power of simplicity. It does not seem to me to be at all incompatible with either fundamental research or applied development. I recommend the question Why?