Re: [ECOLOG-L] Education Advancing or Declining in Quality?
I don't know how many of you have checked out the recent job listings, but I was very surprised this year at how many are in China, India, Japan. Doesn't bode well for the future of US science. On Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 2:46 PM, Aaron T. Dossey wrote: > Actually the most important thing needed in science/research in America, as > with most everything else, is JOBS JOBS JOBS. > Science (and the rest of America) suffers from a very simple dysfunction: > too much investment in too few. > > Too few PI's, too many fully and highly skilled/trained creative scientists > forced to work for them - and relinquish their intellectual property to > their bosses, not to mention give up hope of a position in science from > which they could retire. > > Aaron T. Dossey, Ph.D. > Biochemistry and Molecular Biology > > > > > > > Wayne Tyson wrote: > >> >> >> Ecolog: >> >> Because it all boils down to individuals and cases and the devil is in the >> details, I would say that (the article at the link is.gd/dTIL2)* as Madhu >> suggests, is as good a place as any to start. Generalizations won't cut it, >> but that doesn't mean that trends and entrenched habits and even >> inconvenient truths are not useful--to a point, of course. Hacker and >> Dreifus have illuminated some possible pathways to betterment, but like all >> good teachers, wisely choose not to belabor the obvious and bore us all to >> tears. Their job is to help all to UNDERSTAND, not merely to "know." As they >> point out: "It's the job of the teacher to get students interested and >> turned on no matter what the subject is. Every student can be turned on if >> teachers really engage in this way." That is the issue, and that is the >> challenge. Always has been, always will. It is out of THIS that the magic of >> fuller and fuller understanding grows. >> >> Ecology, like a "roofer's card," covers everything. Every teacher should >> have a fire in hisher belly and infect as many other people with the disease >> as possible, in and out of institutions. Those who are primarily interested >> in glory and/or riches should keep a day job in the military or the stock >> market and settle for ecology as an avocation. Getting rich and famous just >> isn't in the cards in ecology; it ain't for the egocentric. It's a square >> peg in a round hole problem. >> >> True, the whole trend in the world is toward acquisitiveness rather than >> inquisitiveness, and right there is the tension between emphasis on a life >> of ease and an easy life. Subordination of all kinds should be resisted, but >> ecology most of all, as a study of life in its context, should resist >> selling out to the acquisitors. Students, which means all of us who stand >> before Nature in naked ignorance, would do well to suffer their suffering >> unto Ecolog--and all of the 10,000-plus subscribers should pass the word >> that this is the place to start. To some degree (and once one gets hooked, >> CAN one stop?) every single person should be an ecologist. Jobs, JOBS? We >> don' need no stinkin' JOBS--what we need is a LIFE! >> >> WT >> >> >> * For some reason, inclusion of the actual link caused the system to >> reject the post without sending the request for confirmation message. Sorry >> for any inconvenience. Have others noticed this? What is it about the link >> that causes this? This is the first time I have encountered this. The fact >> that Madhu's post was able to get through the system with this "defect" only >> adds to the mystery. >> > -- Malcolm L. McCallum Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
[ECOLOG-L] ESA Info session on NRC post-docs at NOAA Fisheries
Come chat with scientists and post-docs at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, a NOAA Fisheries research center in Seattle WA, to learn about post-doc-ing in NOAA Fisheries. Thursday Aug 5th 5:45-6:30pm beside the job board in Exhibit Hall A. An opportunity to ask * What is it like to post-doc at a NOAA Fisheries research center? * How do you find out about open opportunities? * How is a post-doc at a federal agency different than one in academia? * What kinds of research are done at NOAA Fisheries science centers? * How is being a research scientist at a federal agency different than being in academia? * How do you get a research job at a federal agency? * Does it really rain nine months of the year in Seattle?
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Feedback: what's a niche?
DANGEROUS? Backing up a skosh too far for your victory photo on top of Everest is dangerous! But if you are concerned about getting caught in a milling herd of posturing hair-splitters or a king-of-the-mountain game that goes nowhere, I can understand your hesitation. And what's quasi about it? I read the first 18 posts and found some real gems and some serious cracks. Still, unless there's some commitment to taking challenges seriously and sticking with the discussion until it is resolved, I, too, am reluctant to thrash around in the swamp. But on that score, O'Hara says, in part: ". . . how should we formalise and operationalise our definitions?" The central "problem" with niche theory is its inseparability from the idea of boundaries . . . Oops! I'd better watch my ecotone. WT PS: How does one, how do "we," move the field of ecology forward? - Original Message - From: "William Silvert" To: Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 1:23 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Feedback: what's a niche? Too dangerous. The strict Hutchinsonians really get upset if your definition of niche is not exactly as the master wrote it. Here is a key question - can there be an empty niche? Not according to Hutchinsonians. This is a good example of the kind of quasi-religious fervor that doesn't really move the field of ecology forward. Bill Silvert PS - If the "empty niche" doesn't get them excited, try the fuzzy niche. - Original Message - From: "Bob Ohara" To: Sent: segunda-feira, 2 de Agosto de 2010 9:07 Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Feedback: what's a niche? Hi all! I'm in a workshop, and we've been discussing (amongst other things) what people understand by the niche. We'd like people to tell us, because we're a biased sample. So I've put up a blog post for you all to give your opinions: If you have any views, please go over there and comment. Bob Bob O'Hara Tel: +49 69 798 40216 (in Germany) Mobile: +49 1515 888 5440 WWW: http://www.bik-f.de/root/index.php?page_id=219 Blog: http://blogs.nature.com/boboh/ Journal of Negative Results - EEB: www.jnr-eeb.org No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.441 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3045 - Release Date: 08/02/10 06:35:00
[ECOLOG-L] Need advice on digital microscope
Howdie, Ecologers, I'd like some advice on a digital microscope. The company *American Science and Surplus* (http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/category/43) is selling a digital microscope for $230.00. Here is their product picture and ad copy (with the blue background): [image: LCD Digital Microscope] LCD Digital Microscope The biggest advance since the lens: Our Celestron® compound (biological) microscope comes with a 3.5" LCD viewing screen that replaces the traditional eyepiece, for easy sharing in a lab or classroom. It has a 2-megapixel camera, 128MB internal memory, USB cable for transfer to a PC, SD card slot, video capability, 4X, 10X and 100X objectives for 40X, 100X and 400X optical magnification, and digital zoom up to 1600X. Top and bottom LED illumination with adjustable intensity powered by the included AC adapter with an extra European adapter for those who travel, 6-position color wheel, (5) prepared slides, and (4) imaging styles: normal, B/W, inverted and sepia. Carries a 2-year manufacturer's warranty. Comes in a rigid lined 15" x 7" x 8" OA carrying case with a suitcase-handle and shoulder strap, for storage, field work or classroom visits. [image: on sale] 14473 LCD MICROSCOPE $229.95 EACH (was $249.95) Do any of you have experience with this product? I will not be using it for high-falultin research; I have a hobbyist's interest in looking at pollen, pond water, stomata, and things like that. I'm not very demanding, but I would be disappointed if the optics caused a lot of distortion or if the two megapixel resolution lost too much detail. I will be very grateful for tips on this or similar products. Thanks, fellas and gals. Martin M. Meiss
[ECOLOG-L] NEON - Sr. Scientist - Visiting Appointment
Overview The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON, Inc.) is a nonprofit science corporation dedicated to understanding how changes in climate, land use and invasive species impact ecology. Currently under design is the NEON project - an observatory comprising more than 60 environmental and biological monitoring locations distributed throughout twenty domains across the United States, Hawaii, Alaska & Puerto Rico. The observatory network will be the first of its kind designed to detect and enable forecasting of ecological change at continental scales over multiple decades. The Fundamental Sentinel Unit of the Observatory (FSU) is responsible for measurement and sampling in organismal biology. Position Term/Location This position is a term position for 12-18 months. The position is located in Boulder, CO at NEON headquarters reporting to the FSU Manager. Position Summary NEON invites applications from established senior ecologists who are passionate about understanding how changes in climate, land use and invasive species impact ecology on a continental scale to help develop scientific protocols and assist in acquiring resources for bio archives, chemical, genetic, isotopic and disease analyses. This is an active “hands-on” position and is an excellent opportunity for those who want to focus their efforts to work on big science in a project environment and assist with providing strategic advice, and collaborate with other scientists in academe, industry and the government. As the Sr. Visitor you will initiate and help design the scientific protocols development direction for a national observatory and facilitate external reviews of critical FSU protocols. You will play a key part in managing the process for external review of FSU protocols. You will also manage the design and implementation of external facility contracts (including Bioarchive, Chemical, Genetic, Isotopic, and Disease). Additionally, as a member of the FSU facility you will use your experience and expertise to provide advice to solve scientific principles and contribute to the design of field crew staffing, training and operations plans and be a key interface with the Field Operations group. Required Experience • MS (PhD preferred) in ecology or related field • At least 15 years experience in ecological research or natural resources management, or equivalent experience Preferred Experience: • Experience working with government agencies in the context of ecological research • Experience working with field crews and field stations • History of good communication experience among multiple partners (e.g., academic, government, private) • Experience with contract management Skills and Abilities: • Solid analytical skills and creative problem solver who can successfully apply experience and judgment to both short- and long-term challenges • Self-starter who can develop novel methods, analyses and approaches to enable continental-scale research • Demonstrated expert level communication skills to effectively explain requirements, present solutions, and influence management or external sponsors in area of expertise; and coach, mentor and counsel employees with a wide range of experience, skills and interests • Demonstrated interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with a broad wide range of scientific, technical, and management staff, stakeholders, and vendors • Experience working collaboratively and ability to develop appropriate responses to changing priorities and ability to meet deadlines • Occasional travel for meetings and conferences • Highly organized • Knowledge of field biology protocols and practices • Scientific writing and review • Open to undertaking responsibilities beyond those associated with individual research projects • Ability to work independently and as part of an active science team • Problem solver who can successfully apply experience, judgment, and creativity to both short- and long-term challenges Apply to: www.neoninc.org NEON Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, Veterans and Disabled Persons are encouraged to apply.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Feedback: what's a niche?
Too dangerous. The strict Hutchinsonians really get upset if your definition of niche is not exactly as the master wrote it. Here is a key question - can there be an empty niche? Not according to Hutchinsonians. This is a good example of the kind of quasi-religious fervor that doesn't really move the field of ecology forward. Bill Silvert PS - If the "empty niche" doesn't get them excited, try the fuzzy niche. - Original Message - From: "Bob Ohara" To: Sent: segunda-feira, 2 de Agosto de 2010 9:07 Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Feedback: what's a niche? Hi all! I'm in a workshop, and we've been discussing (amongst other things) what people understand by the niche. We'd like people to tell us, because we're a biased sample. So I've put up a blog post for you all to give your opinions: If you have any views, please go over there and comment. Bob Bob O'Hara Tel: +49 69 798 40216 (in Germany) Mobile: +49 1515 888 5440 WWW: http://www.bik-f.de/root/index.php?page_id=219 Blog: http://blogs.nature.com/boboh/ Journal of Negative Results - EEB: www.jnr-eeb.org
[ECOLOG-L] Sustainable Development Simulation (SDSIM) Feedback Request
Greetings! The objective of the Sustainable Development Simulation (SDSIM) is to analyze trade-offs between human development and economic development priorities. This is to let you know that I have just posted some documentation on the SDSIM model and user interface: Sustainable Development Simulation (SDSIM) Version 1- General Description http://www.pelicanweb.org/solisustv06n08page1supp3.html Sustainable Development Simulation (SDSIM) Version 1- User Interface http://www.pelicanweb.org/solisustv06n08page1supp4.html This is just a rough draft, but any comments would be appreciated, and I would be grateful if you forward this notice to anyone who might be interested. If anyone has the STELLA software, I would be happy to send you the SDSIMV1.STM file, which includes the user interface, the complete flow diagram, and the annotated list of equations. I know everybody is busy, but now I need some critical reviews to determine if my work is on the right path toward something that could be useful. In particular, please take a look at the BIOSPHERE INTEGRITY, CLIMATE INTEGRITY, and ECOLOGICAL CAPITAL sectors and how they tie together with the demographic, economic, social, and human development sectors. No rush when time permits, OK? Sincerely, Luis Luis T. Gutierrez, Ph.D. The Pelican Web (http://pelicanweb.org) Editor, PelicanWeb's Journal of Sustainable Development A monthly, CC license, free subscription, open access e-journal
