Vanishing systematists?

[Gregory Zolnerowich]

Is there really a decline in systematists? Howell Daly's survey of 56
academic departments of entomology or related sciences in the U.S. and
Canada showed that 40% of the depts. with insect systematists on their
faculties had no doctoral students in systematics (American Entomologist,
Spring 1995). He also reported there were 111 students in 1992, down from
155 in 1982, and extrapolated dire predictions from those numbers.

Meanwhile, job openings for insect systematists draw 30-60 applicants.

Perhaps it's a combination of fewer positions and a large, but non-growing,
pool of systematists competing for those fewer positions.

****************************************************************************
Dr. Gregory Zolnerowich                 gzolner at acs.tamu.edu
Dept. of Entomology                     409-862-3344 phone
Texas A&M University                    409-845-7977 fax
College Station, TX 77843-2475
USA
****************************************************************************