cultural change

[Michael Schmitt]

Dear colleagues,

just a short note on Bernard Landry's posting of today and Doug Yanega's
previous one.

I am very much in favour of electronic communication. However, as I see the
rapid change in technology, I strongly argue in favour of the traditional
method (ink on paper) for the valid publication of taxon names. The news
may and should be spread electronically, but merely in addition, not as the
primary means.

Concerning registration of names, I clearly second Doug Yanega's view: In
the long run, registration of new names is unavoidable (in my opinion).
Thus, we should not waste more time with arguing but start preparation
right now. This means, we, the taxonomists, are challenged to work out
procedures and standards for registration and to establish a body of
persons and/or institutions who are enabled and entitled to do or at least
supervise this process. If it turns our that the International Commission
on Zoological Nomenclature has neither the financial background nor the
personal resources to do it, we should either seek for ways to improve that
state or look for alternative ways to guarantee the standards set and the
effectivity of the procedures chosen.

                                          Best regards
                                         Michael Schmitt





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* Prof.Dr. Michael Schmitt (Zoologischer Anzeiger, Managing    *
* Editor; Bonner zoologische Beitraege, Editor-in-Chief)       *
* Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig  *
* Adenauerallee 160, D-53113 Bonn, Germany                     *
* Phone/Fax: +49 228-9122 286, e-mail: m.schmitt at uni-bonn.de   *
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