Another example - Geo or Bio?

[ewan.fordyce@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (ewan fordyce)]

Another example . . . advanced "paleontology" at University of Otago
comprises two one-semester courses in Geology which alternate year by year.
In one course (1997 enrolment 38 students), "Evolution of the New Zealand
biota," about half the students are non-geology majors.  Significantly,
quite a few students are one-semester visitors from USA who seek a "New
Zealand-related" subject.  The other course, "Fosssils, strata and
hydrocarbon basins," is based around foraminiferal micropaleontology, and
attracts mainly geology students (typically ~30 students) interested in
basin history work.

On broader issues, University courses here have proliferated recently, and
overall student numbers have increased dramatically.  Resulting timetabling
problems force smaller departments (Geology)/ smaller courses (paleo) to
teach at "unfavorable" times.  Also, strict enrolment-related departmental
funding has led to departments that jealously guard their students and
discourage interdisciplinary mixes.  To counter the latter, we must
continue to identify and push the broader relevance of paleo.

R. Ewan Fordyce
Associate Professor, Department of Geology
University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ