[Taxacom] Why Taxonomy does NOT matter

[Bob Mesibov]

Here's a coincidence: yesterday the Australian Minister for Science etc had a media event at a lab involved in the Giant Magellan Telescope project. The Australian federal government is putting up tens of millions of the $700 million needed to build this gadget in the Chilean Andes. Said the Minister:

''We have some of the greatest astronomers in the world working in Australia, and we have got to make sure that we provide them with the very best equipment so that they can continue their work bringing new inventions to Australians and making sure that we maintain our standard of living in this country.'' (http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/canberra-scientists-will-help-look-back-through-time-20110418-1dlqy.html)

“This is a huge boost for Australia's space industry with engineering and research advances at the AITC [Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre, Australian National University] flowing on to the sector,” he said. (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/searching-for-secrets-of-the-universe/story-e6frg8y6-1226041019858)

And:

ANU vice-chancellor Ian Young said the facility will attract industry involvement to the engineering program. ''We'd like to do world-class science and we'd like to be seen as doing world-class science,'' Professor Young said. School Manager of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics Mike Fowler hoped the new facilities would help stem the brain drain of Australia's scientists and engineers. (http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/things-are-looking-up-on-stromlo/2138183.aspx)

Sure *sounds* like money well spent.
-- 
Dr Robert Mesibov
Honorary Research Associate
Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, and
School of Zoology, University of Tasmania
Home contact: PO Box 101, Penguin, Tasmania, Australia 7316
Ph: (03) 64371195; 61 3 64371195
Webpage: http://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/?articleID=570