On the merits of Nature Quests/Hunts/Blitz's
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 20:14:19 -0400
To: "christian thompson" <cthompson@sel.barc.usda.gov>
From: pick@pick.uga.edu (John Pickering)
Subject: On the merits of Nature Quests/Hunts/Blitz's
Cc: xelaalex@erols.com, padler@clemson.edu, Keith_Langdon@nps.gov,
spruance@infinet.com, becky_nichols@nps.gov, Chuck_Parker@nps.gov,
msharkey@byron.ca.uky.edu, dwagner@uconnvm.uconn.edu,
bwiegman@unity.ncsu.edu, wilson.don@nmnh.si.edu
Chris,
Sorry that you couldn't get through. I have been on the phone almost
straight for two days putting the final touches on our agenda and plans for
the meeting.
Relax. Nobody's suggesting that the dipterists will produce anything but a
high quality scientific inventory of the Park. For one, the Park is only
interested in high quality data to manage its resources. The fly component
will be just like those of all other taxa and include high quality,
rigorous science. However, I hope that the dipterists will also include
education and outreach on flies.
One of the problems that we face is that the general public is not too much
interested in flies, except for seeing them blasted by bug-zappers. Ditto
for taxonomy in general, as witnessed by the general demise of the
discipline. The Nature Quest/Hunt/Blitz idea was suggested by Dave Wagner
at the ECN meeting and supported by a large number of individuals there,
including dipterists, lepidopterists, coleopterists, and other-order-ists.
It is a media event to excite the public about flies, leps, ...
biodiversity. It should also produce some superficial data. It is not a
replacement for the solid research that we all intend to do as part of the
ATBI.
Please contact Brian Wiegmann who is interested in getting a fly hunt going
this May. The Diptera Society is meeting in Boone, North Carolina. Brian
hopes to arrange it so that 30+ of them show-up in the Park and do some
professional collecting, with the help of local children and volunteers, to
improve the almost non-existent fly checklist of what's in the Park. If
nothing else, the group will avoid the problem of getting 29+ permits to
collect. Unfortunately, Brian is unable to attend the Gatlinburg planning
workshop. Among other fly related activities during our meeting, I hope
that either Peter Adler, John Morse, or you might be interested in helping
to develop the Nature Quest concept at the meeting. Brian's at
919-515-1653 and <bwiegman@unity.ncsu.edu>.
Yes. A Nature Quest is corny, and I agree with you that a "game" could do
damage to systematic's stuffy image. However, "Scientists discover 356
species of flies in Park, 37 new to science" should be good press that will
interest the public and capture their imaginations. And no matter whether
Cornell or Georgia wins the count, their efforts certainly will be more
scientifically productive than the Linnaean Games in which entomology
students spend hours practicing to regurgitate trivia -- all in the name of
fun, learning, and competition.
Chris, we deperately need you and other profession systematists to conduct
an ATBI. We cannot do it without you. We also need the support of the
general public, as we cannot do our endeavor without their support either.
Help us engage them in what you do, and they will help you do what you do -
science. In so doing, they'll learn to appreciate nature and not destroy
it at every turn. I strongly believe that conserving biodiversity is about
understanding it AND about teaching others its wonders. Hence, why Discover
Life in America is about science AND education.
And thanks for verbalizing your a negative feelings. You made me think and
overcome my own ambivalence. Nature Quests may be sold as science but they
are primarily public relations events. And if you still have doubts, think
"John Glenn" or think "INTERNATIONAL Space Station." Let's learn from
NASA. Let's discover life and capture the imagination and support of
everyone.
Needless to say, I look forward to having a few beers with you in Gatlinburg,
Cheers,
Pick
>John:
>
>Tried to call, but the line is or seems always busy.
>
>I do not know what you mean by your entry on your new Agenda. What is
>Nature Quest??
>
>We, dipterists, will not be any different than other TWIGs. We, IF WE GET
>INVOLVED, will do a professional (SCIENTIFIC) inventory of GSMNP Diptera.
>
>I now strongly feel that the "BioBlitz" game does more damage than help to
>systematics. If thisATBI is being sold to the public as games scientist
>play, like can Cornell beetle people collect more than Georgia
>hymenopterists, or which group can collect the most in a day, etc. then I
>will join Dan Brooks et alia.
>
>Peter and I want to set up a Diptera inventory of the standard that NSF
>Survey & Inventory program will fund, not something ABC Wide World of
>Sport wants to air.
>
>Please respond thru my home e-mail (xelaalex@erols.com). I leave Sunday
>morning as I am driving, etc.
>
>Cheers
>
>F. Christian Thompson
>Systematic Entomology Lab., USDA
>Smithsonian Institution
>Washington, D. C. 20560
>(202) 382-1800 voice
>(202) 786-9422 FAX
>cthompso@sel.barc.usda.gov
| Discover Life in America | Science | Nature Quest | Pickering - 11 December, 1998 |