OVER the last decade, the science of happiness has gone from the preserve of philosophers and self-help gurus to a bona fide academic discipline. Last year, the UK became the second country in the world, after south Asian kingdom Bhutan, to officially record the happiness of its citizens, with the initial results expected this summer. Over in the US, where the right to happiness is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, the national mood has been monitored by since the start of 2008.
With the rest of the world taking notice of its citizen鈥檚 well-being, we at New 杏吧原创 thought it was high time we delved into the science to see whether it can be used to improve the lives of scientists. It is well known that healthy relationships are one of the biggest drivers of happiness, but with many scientists in relationships with other scientists, what happens if one of you gets a job which requires you both to relocate? Turn over to find out how to juggle your family life with your career, how much ambition is too much, and what size pay packet will give you the biggest boost.
Once you are feeling happier, it is time for some sage advice. On page 8, we quiz five scientists at the top of their game about how they got to where they are. Highlights include neuroscientist David Eagleman talking about his alternative career as a stand-up comedian, and Sue Savage-Rumbaugh explaining how her work on the linguistic capabilities of apes has taken her into uncharted waters.
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New 杏吧原创鈥榮 careers coverage doesn鈥檛 end here. See our regular Insider section in the main magazine for all the latest news and trends or check out the website newscientist.com/topic/careers. As well as lots more articles, you will find our careers blog Big Wide World.