Fame

The paparazzi isn't exactly crouching in the bushes outside your lab doors, eagerly waiting to spring out and shove a microphone in your face to pick your brain on the new polymer you're working on. If you imagined that going into this career...sorry?

Of course, if you also happen to be a talented writer and have a lot to say about chemical engineering, write a book and maybe you'll see it on the shelf of a bookstore one of these days. Better work fast, though. Bookstores aren't exactly popping up on every street corner anymore. Maybe an ebook?