[Taxacom] Occurrence data...

[Walker, Ken]

> the important thing is to have the data ready when someone, somewhere, wants it for some purpose. I can't think of any other major human enterprise that tolerates such vagueness in its aims.

How about taxonomy? When someone asks: "What is it?" Do we then begin to revise and describe to answer the question in perhaps 5 years? Taxonomy answers questions that are yet to be asked and like you Bob, many people have trouble placing a value on such a commodity.

How about museum and herbaria collections?  I cannot define the future use of every specimen in our collections and yet I go out and collect more specimens using taxpayer funds. How do I justify use of these funds unless society tolerates such vagueness.

Can you prepare a definitive list of users of your taxonomical outputs? How is your taxonomic output going to be used?

If not, then how do you "tolerates such vagueness in <your> aims."

Ken

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