Paleo21 - Avocational paleontologists

[poulton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Regarding Michael Sternberg's suggestion, I recently attended the 2nd meeting 
of the British Columbia Paleontology Alliance, which is an assembly of 
various non-professional rock and fossil clubs from B.C., as well as 
professional paleontologists involved in the province, from government and 
universities. Presentations were intermixed, but were all of high quality and 
well presented, whether "professional" or "amateur". If there is any 
significant difference to be noted, the non-professionals' enthusiasm for 
their subject and expertise tends to be offset by a lack of confidence. I 
suggest that a great benefit could be had by professionals taking some time 
to coach promising amateurs toward developing confidence in their area or 
fossil group, so that they can make lasting contributions by publication and 
public presentation of results. In many fields of paleontology there are not 
sufficient professionals, if any at all, to handle all the material 
available, and much of it could be dealt with to a professional level by 
local amateurs with a little encouragement. I agree that an expanded role for 
professiona-non-professional engagement should become more of a priority for 
us.