Re: 10.000 essential terms but no fossil groups

From
Date
>Dear Paleonetters,
>
>Going through the 1997 edition of "Dictionary of Earth Sciences" (Mc
>Graw-hill, ISBN 0-07-114920-1), advertising "10.000 essential terms
>covering every discipline of Earth Sciences"  I looked for the term
>Chitinozoa, my favourite group, and was not too surprised that it
>was not there. I was more surprised that Acritarchs were not there,
>neither ammonites and many other fossil groups. I have been
>wondering if palaeontology is still a discipline of the Earth
>Sciences. Can we do something to avoid these omissions in 
>dictionaries that are often used by Earth Sciences students and 
>researchers and where commonly used fossil groups are not mentioned? 
>
>Jacques Verniers
>*****************************************************************************
>Jacques Verniers
>Senior Research Associate (Fund for Scientific Research - Flanders (Belgium)
>University of Ghent, Departm. Geology & Pedology, Laboratory of Palaeontology
>Krijgslaan 281 S8,     B-9000 Gent    Belgium
>tel. +32(0)9-2644614; fax. +32(0)9-2644608; Email: jacques.verniers@rug.ac.be
>Postal address: JV R.U.G. Palaeontology  Krijgslaan 281  B-9000 Gent  Belgium
>*****************************************************************************
>

Dear Sir,

I also question if paleontology is still part of the geological sciences.
My  Department has recently not only eliminated  paleontology as a
requirement for a Bachelor of Science degree in geology, but no longer
accepts it as an elective in geology.  I can teach paleo only if there are
six or more students who are willing to take it as an elective outside of
the major.  Also, the course must be taught in addition to my regular
teaching load for no additional pay.  Needless to state, I do not expect to
be teaching paleontology anytime in the near future.  Despite the above, I
am still expected to conduct paleontological research, but can not have
graduate students  and now will not even have undergraduates with whom to work.