tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028565150475419281.post5679603723980143433..comments2024-01-23T15:18:52.111-05:00Comments on Trichopterology: Scientists-who-are-not-paid.Kaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15709111344826156855noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028565150475419281.post-20045005258761596772013-01-20T18:38:46.642-05:002013-01-20T18:38:46.642-05:0020130120 1534567820130120 15345678pdx00782http://web.pdx.edu/~pdx00782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028565150475419281.post-92096223426136881022012-07-07T22:22:51.168-04:002012-07-07T22:22:51.168-04:00Sorry about coming late to the party.
The word am...Sorry about coming late to the party.<br /><br />The word amateur comes from the latin <i>amare</i>, which means "to love". I love the taxonomy that I am doing, hence I will always remain an amateur.Gunnarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09160004621405227245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028565150475419281.post-69487617071321910712012-04-12T16:16:21.883-04:002012-04-12T16:16:21.883-04:00Err.. "wouldn't be possible"Err.. "would<b>n't</b> be possible"Ted C. MacRaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07468976060347412389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028565150475419281.post-2706521306042061402012-04-12T16:15:00.635-04:002012-04-12T16:15:00.635-04:00aCount me also among those who have not noticed an...aCount me also among those who have not noticed any provincial use of the term "Pro-Am" among academics. Indeed Dave Pearson recently wrote a great paper detailing the important role that Pro-Ams will have in slowing continued decline of taxonomy as a discipline. As a self-proclaimed Pro-Am beetle taxonomist, I enjoy a level of access to professional taxomists that would be possible if there really were such feelings of superiority. I'm generally encouraged by the inclusive approach that most taxonomists (pro and am) seem to be taking in the interest of advancing our discipline.Ted C. MacRaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07468976060347412389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028565150475419281.post-32040540758659129942012-03-21T21:45:30.083-04:002012-03-21T21:45:30.083-04:00Dave, while you may not feel it directly, I don...Dave, while you may not feel it directly, I don't think the differentiation is to any of our benefit, and certainly not to the benefit of natural history.Kaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15709111344826156855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028565150475419281.post-44286755308474402532012-03-21T20:48:00.254-04:002012-03-21T20:48:00.254-04:00I guess I don't mind the "pro-am" de...I guess I don't mind the "pro-am" designations. I actually prefer my gentleman trichopterist choice. I may do what I want when I want and how I want. I enjoy the folks I collect with and collaborate with. There is plenty to do for all.davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028565150475419281.post-53687686794955075242012-03-21T17:46:59.901-04:002012-03-21T17:46:59.901-04:00TGIQ -
Would that I could erase the lines overnig...TGIQ -<br /><br />Would that I could erase the lines overnight, and never hear another person say "pro-am".Kaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15709111344826156855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028565150475419281.post-16672960890626979872012-03-21T17:45:49.289-04:002012-03-21T17:45:49.289-04:00SoundingtheSea -
You're right, it's not e...SoundingtheSea -<br /><br />You're right, it's not even about the payment. The differentiation is about the superiority of academics over non-academics simply because they are, rather than by knowledge or skill. And often not by any conscious intent.Kaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15709111344826156855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028565150475419281.post-893250962873482812012-03-21T17:36:09.303-04:002012-03-21T17:36:09.303-04:00Morgan, I agree. And maybe that is for the best. I...Morgan, I agree. And maybe that is for the best. I'm not sure that the 'professionals' get that much more work done, being caught up in administrative and teaching duties. There's also the issue that replacing personal reward with monetary payment tends to reduce passion for the work (http://youarenotsosmart.com/2011/12/14/the-overjustification-effect/). If all taxonomists got paid for all the work they did, less work would probably get done overall.<br /><br />If we are really going this direction, perhaps we need a guild of taxonomists (foreshadowing future post...)Kaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15709111344826156855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028565150475419281.post-52495916890933826012012-03-20T21:32:54.486-04:002012-03-20T21:32:54.486-04:00Great post. I completely agree. These arbitrary an...Great post. I completely agree. These arbitrary and divisive lines get drawn in the sand, and do no one any favors.TGIQhttp://www.thebuggeek.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028565150475419281.post-60945626000206199132012-03-20T21:29:04.438-04:002012-03-20T21:29:04.438-04:00Whoever says scientists need to be paid to be real...Whoever says scientists need to be paid to be real scientists never met a graduate student.Alexis Ruddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15583537173720113601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028565150475419281.post-36095374318334183762012-03-20T21:24:36.691-04:002012-03-20T21:24:36.691-04:00I agree that trying to differentiate between "...I agree that trying to differentiate between "amateur" scientists and employed scientists is a ridiculous endeavour. Biology & entomology started off as hobby pursuits, pursued by people of all socioeconomic classes; it's only in the past 150 years (or less) that the momentum has shifted towards university-based researchers.<br /><br />I saw Nancy talk at ESA and had the opportunity to speak with her over lunch, and she knows her stuff just as well as most "pros", and was more outwardly enthusiastic than many! I'm not sure why she feels her work "has no scientific basis", as she tests hypotheses, makes discoveries and shares her work with the world, no less than any other scientist.<br /><br />The way that taxonomy funding/hiring is going, it won't be long until most taxonomic research is being conducted by individuals who have day jobs in other fields or industries!Morgan Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04693193551329558541noreply@blogger.com