a Grand Scheme for systematics? (was Re: Electronic publishing (fwd))

[Richard Jensen]

In reply to Jerry Bricker's request for information on the perceived
shortage of systematists:  please review the Systematics Agenda 2000
documents.

A 1990 survey by the NSF revealed that there were just over 940
systematists employed in U.S. doctoral granting institutions and that
many of these indicated that systematists will not be replaced when they
retire or move along.  There is also an unwillingness on the part of
academic institutions to provide necessary support for housing herbaria
and museums that are critical for systematics work.  In Indiana, there
has been a decrease in the number of systematists working in education
and several small herbaria have been retired to larger institutions.

As for the number of applicants for any position, in my experience, many
of these applicants are not systematists - they are simply looking for a
job and are hoping that they will be able to pass as a systematist.

And, the shortages are real in many taxonomic areas.  How many
systematists are actively conducting research in such major groups as the
nematodes and any of a number of potoctistan groups?


Richard J. Jensen      |   E-MAIL: rjensen at saintmarys.edu
Dept. of Biology       |   TELEPHONE: 219-284-4674
Saint Mary's College   |   FAX: 219-284-4716
Notre Dame, IN  46556  |