exploration of life on earth

[Richard Jensen]

George Schatz has a good point.  Maybe we systematists should adopt the
strategy being used by NASA supporters: sending out letters with surveys
asking for support of space programs.  I suppose the idea is that if
enough members of the scientific community (and the public) reply in a
positive way, then this carries weight with the budget makers.  Of course,
the Hennig Society, the Society of Systematic Biologists, and the American
Society of Plant Taxonomists have taken steps to try to provide the
rationale and necessity for doing just what George suggests ( via the
Systematics 2000 Agenda - gee, there's one of those darn Latin plurals
used in a singular sense).

I suspect that one reason NASA programs are seen as more appealing than
other endeavors (e.g., documenting biodiversity in poorly known places on
Earth) has to do with some psychological need to expand our horizons.  In
one general sense, many people have the attitude, with respect to funding
expeditions on Earth, of "been there, done that."  It's almost as if there
is an innate drive to go where no human has trod - this can be used to
explain human migrations and explorations (why?, Because it's there)
throughout history.  Space is "the final frontier" and that's our hope of
salvation (the discoveries made along the way will provide untold benefits
for all of mankind).  It's hard for someone trying to develop a better
understanding of systematic/evolutionary  relationships among nematodes,
turtle parasites, salamanders, oak trees, or even human populations to
convince the public that such research may be just as meaningful as
getting to Mars.



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  |