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This is in reply to jshane@alaska.net Quotes from his message are
between <>.
<However, I am slightly amused at some of the rhetoric.
Paleontologists have always, and I mean ALWAYS gotten the short end of
the stick and been the poor stepchildren of geology in industry.>
We can only reap what we have sown. If paleontologists have gotten
the short end of the stick it is only because they have remained
unchanged in their approach for 50 years. From my observations after
26 years in industry is that paleontologists IN GENERAL have not
proactively attempted to integrate their results with other geoscience
specialities as well as they could. This is critical in an
exploration and exploitation environment. Industry is not in the
business to fund hobbies. Many have wanted to remain in their office
looking down their microscopes and giving answer that only other
paleontologists can interpret, expecting specialists in other parts of
geoscience to give relevance to their data. It just doesn't happen
that way. Then when they begin losing their jobs they start to shout
stepchild. Sure we are handmaidens to the stratigrapher, but only
because we have placed OURSELVES in that role. In hard times you keep
the stratigrapher, and get rid of the handmaiden
<It has also been my experience that anytime a paleontologist attains
a position of authority or status in the in the oil industry they turn
their backs on the working paleo troops. This may not be concious at
first and not entirely their fault. Nevertheless, it is real. I have
seen it time and time again. We are our own worst enemies!>
I don't know what you intend to imply by this and in part it may be
true, but I resent the implications that the current group is also
turning their backs on industry paleontologists. Quite the contrary,
this is the first group that has attempted to lift industry
paleontology out of its problems. Contrary to what you say, there has
never has been a Paleo Managers Group. There certainly have been
Paleontological Managers in individual companies, but not a group
representative of the industry that meet on a regular basis. Very few
of these people have been in their positions for more that a couple of
years, so some of the things you are trying to imply do not
necessarily apply to this group.
<For this reason, I find it slightly amusing and a bit aggravading
that one of the stated goals is to "Compile a contractor register for
vendor services" and "communicating. We sense that this is not
happening", among others.>
This statement in nonsensical and taken out of several different
contexts of my message.
<The effort to standardize, compile and make a register of vendor
services is good for the vendors, but please don't fool yourselves
into thinking that this will help employ more company paleontologists.
It simply does not.>
Where was this stated or even implied? These are your thoughts not
mine. The attempt to pull together this list is driven by the fact
that there are numerous cottage industries out there in the
paleontology business that have sprung up in the last several years.
Having a list of as many of these folk as we can accumulate helps
everyone involved. Think positive! Win/Win!
<As to sensing that not enough communicating is going on. I truly
hope that you don't think that this is new.>
You miss the whole point here. We are talking about a
pan-paleontology dialogue that includes vertebrate paleos to palys to
foraminiferologist, etc and and pan-organizational to inlcude
industry, museums, government etc. We are trying to raise our focus
in paleontology above just an industry level.
<It has been my experience that after reorgs that are going on as we
speak. The people left always want to start something like you are
proposing (I am aware that these goals are not new, so don't flame.
It just seems odd to me that there is always a renewed push after
drastic changes.).>
I don't know of any cross industry paleo group like this that has
existed in the past. Can you give me specifics?
<Now, I am not condemming the group for trying to do the things that
you are proposing. I am just inserting some reality into the
situation and perhaps sounding some frustration with the paleo
community, especially the "paleo managers" group, which has so often
failed to protect their own.>
Please don't equate us with people who have managed paleontology in
the past.
<I suppose that I am not hopeful for any significant impact from this
group beyond a self-help for those still in the industry. Please
don't get me wrong. I am not against the group or its goals. I am
just injecting a bit of realism and experience (15 years) from being
on the inside.>
Thank you for your optimism. My 26 years tells me we can have a
positive effect, as we already have.
I am really sorry that you are so bittter about your experience in
industry. I do not know your particulars, but let the rest of us who
are still in industry try to forge a more solid basis upon which we
can continue in our careers. We face enough negative input daily in
our jobs that we don't need it from a "friend" also.
H. Richard Lane
Director of Biostratigraphic Support and Development
Amoco Corp.
hrlane@amoco.com
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