[Taxacom] Funding arguments for taxonomy !?

[Phillip S. Boegh]

Dear Taxacom'mers

In a not far future, I need to ask for funding for taxonomy, which all 
know, is not easy.

Conservation and Biodiversity arguments do not appeal for decision 
makers that focus on short term solutions of the economic crisis. We 
need to start a new wave of needs for taxonomic information, if the 
branch should regain its strength. What I want is a general goodwill to 
hope for fundings.

Please add your ideas and consider if the below is a way to go?:

A new funding argument may be to document that the adaptations of many 
organisms directly inspire to new revolutionary invention that can soon 
be used for commercial development in the industry. Such well-known 
bionics example is the C-shaped jaws of Ergates spiculatus larvae that 
inspired to the chain saw. I know the risk is that all funding will be 
linked to possible inventions, which we cannot predict.

However, it will cost very little labor for a taxonomist after (s)he has 
found a new species (or higher level) to upload a qualified guess to a 
database why this particular organism has survived thousand years of 
selection - and may become useful info for the industry.
Inventors and development departments can enter the same database and 
search for news or receive RSS feeds in their area.

Best wishes

Phillip Bøgh
Research coordinator