Re: Systematics and Paleontology

[Mark Purnell <map2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thomas Yancey wrote:
>The absence of response from practitioners in other aspects of 
>paleontology 
>suggests that systematics is indeed, just one skill among the many 
>skills we are
>expected to apply. In most university programs, paleo teaching

Perhaps a little too much weight placed in absent data here.

Although my most recent work has not dealt with systematic 
palaeontology, I for one certainly value basic systematic study and 
have such work ongoing (albeit below the top of the priority list).  
I canmnot speak for palaeontologists throughout the world, but I 
would certainly be extremely surprised if the majority of UK 
palaeontologists didn't consider some basic taxonomy to be a vital 
component of palaeontological training.

Mark Purnell



Dr Mark A. Purnell

Department of Geology, University of Leicester
University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
tel: 0116 2523645  fax: 0116 2523918