paleonet Geologists don't work with invertebrates!

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"I think your premise is inappropriate. Overall, geologists do not work
with
Paleozoic invertebrates. Or any invertebrates. Even most paleontologists
use fossils only incidentlally for their studies, relying mostly on
literature compilations. The paleontological activity in your own
department is atypical of the profession, and even with your department the
greatest activity is by retired faculty.

Develop paper exercises and focus on theory.

T. Yancey"

I'm afraid I disagree vehemently!  Fossil invertebrates are the key to a
number of highly significant and environmentally important research
projects currently going on in this country including global change,
paleoclimatology and ecosystem reconstruction just to name a few.  And we
aren't working with literature compilations - we're working with the real
material coming out of cores. I don't know what is typical or atypical for
our profession any more, but I do know there is some very exciting work
going on and invertebrate fossils are at the center of it!  If we want to
continue to exist as a profession we need to excite young people with these
applications - nothing will turn elementary and junior high school kids off
of science faster than paper exercises and theory.


_______________________
G. Lynn Brewster-Wingard
Geologist, EESP Team
MS 926A National Center
US Geological Survey
Reston, VA  20192
Office: 703-648-5352
http://sofia.usgs.gov/flaecohist/
FAX: 703-648-6953