[Taxacom] Why Taxonomy does NOT matter

[anadm_public-news at yahoo.com]

On 4/18/2011 9:36 AM, Kim van der Linde wrote:

> Let's play advocate of the devil.

> * to repeat the call in my recent post: what Fabian is asking for is 
> *specimens* of actual arguments made by those in a position to influence 
> the underfunding of taxonomy/systematics.

> Maybe these don't exist, and the underfunding of taxonomy is either an 
> unspoken conspiracy or an accident? I'm intrigued by the absence of a 
> flood of "My adminstrator told me taxonomy doesn't deserve funding 
> because..." stories.
>
> fred. 

One of the times I asked money to do my doctorate in taxonomy, I got it denied because

"What the candidate is proposing to do can be easily performed using DNA. Several laboratories in this country have been doing it for groups close to insects. There is no need to visit museums."

This was a Brazilian funding agency speaking.
Interestingly the same agency today takes pride in saying they are increasing resources for taxonomy.
Bad part is, half of the money is exclusively for barcoding, and barcoders can apply for the other half as well.

A.