paleonet Re: Geobiology

["Andrew Rindsberg" <arindsberg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bill, I think you've made your point: It's time to convene the Penrose
Conference, lead the field trip, write the textbook. Thanks to the various
participants for clearing up what 'geobiology' is or may be, and especially
to Norm MacLeod for bringing up the question. I for one have found it
educational.

Google lists 4650 websites for 'geobiology' and 359 for 'biogeology'. Some
universities have geobiology departments, and the late Preston Cloud had the
title Professor of Biogeology. Both terms are clearly on the rise. If to
some degree they are an attempt to escape the stigma of the word
'paleontology', as Roger Kaesler made clear, well, why not? We all have to
carve out a living somehow. I will continue to identify myself proudly as a
paleoecologist in the sinking ship while the youngsters take to the
lifeboats. Save yourselves!

O
o
o
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Speaking of self-identifications, an older (1995-96) edition of the AGI
"Directory of Geoscience Departments" lists 11 geobiologists on North
American faculties. They include:

Richard E. Andrus
Patricia L. Blackwelder
David D. Breshears
Richard E. Dodge
Roger W. Ferenbaugh
Anthony F. Gallegos
Jerald D. Harris
Kenneth M. Klemow
Orrin B. Meyers
Michael A. Steele
Francisco J. Vega-Vera

It seems to me that ~1985, geobiology was also given as a separate listing
but there were fewer people who identified themselves as such. How many
geobiologists are listed in the current edition?

Andrew K. Rindsberg
Geological Survey of Alabama