[Taxacom] MSc taxonomy

[Michael A. Ivie]

Today, our entomology group at Montana State University will gather to 
watch a student defend her M.Sc. thesis in entomology in front of her 
graduate committee.  Said thesis is a Revision of a genus of 47 species 
of West Indian beetles, with resolution of a horrible nomenclatural 
mess, many synonymies, lecotype designations, the move of members of 6 
current generic combinations from 2 subfamilies moved into a single 
genus supported by a spectacluar unique, newly discovered synapomorphy 
of the female internal tract.  It includes a full phylogenetic analysis, 
plus description of 27 new species, both extant and fossil, based on a 
thousand species borrowed from nearly 30 collections.  The first key to 
the genus, fully illustrated, will cap off this work.  It nears 300 
pages of text (double spaced) and plates.  This very excellent piece of 
work, the result of 2 and a half years of work in classes, laboratory 
and museums, is an example of what caps off an M.Sc. in taxonomy in the 
better universities of the USA and Canada. 

This is just the most recent of a long string of such students of whom 
we are justly proud.  And, we are not unique at this university nor in 
entomology, in having such a history.

If someone is looking for an M.S. program in systematics, there are 
dozens of places to do one in North America, in a wide variety of taxa.  
Some programs are less rigorous, some more, but there are many that are 
truly excellent.  The Coleopterists Society even has a cash award, the 
J. Gordon Edwards Prize, awarded to the best paper published on beetles 
each year, derived from a Master's degree thesis.  If there was no 
competition, there would be no point.

Send us your best, we will train them.

Mike

Mark Costello wrote:
> Dear Taxacom readers,
>
>  
>
> It is difficult or impossible to teach taxonomy as part of undergraduate
> degrees nowadays. Courses I know off are usually days to weeks. However, I
> believe MSc options would be possible, with a mix coursework (including
> practical) providing a breadth of knowledge, followed by a research project
> doing taxonomy. They may focus on agricultural/marine/freshwater/insect etc.
>
>
> Are there any such courses around? 
>
>  
>
> Best wishes
>
> Mark 
>
>  
>
>   
>> <>  ><>  ><>  ><>  ><>  ><>  ><>  ><>  ><> ><>
>>     
> Dr Mark J. Costello, Associate Professor,
> Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland,
> PO Box 349, Warkworth 0941, New Zealand.
> [Delivery address 160 Goat Island Road, Leigh, New Zealand]
> Direct tel. +64-9-3737599 ext 83608; Reception +64-9-422 6111
>
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> m.costello at auckland.ac.nz
>
> Skype: markcostello
> Website  <http://www.marine.auckland.ac.nz/> www.marine.auckland.ac.nz
> Other websites:
>
> Member Governing Board of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System
> <http://www.iobis.org/> www.iobis.org. 
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> Oceanography  <http://www.iabo.org/> www.iabo.org. 
> Chair of the World Register of Marine Species and Chief Editor of the
> European Register of Marine Species www.marinespecies.org   
>
> Chair of the Society for the Management of European Biodiversity Data
> <http://www.smebd.eu/> www.smebd.eu
> Manager of Marine Research Information (email) NEtwork on biodiversity;
> archives at  <https://listserv.heanet.ie/marine-b.html>
> https://listserv.heanet.ie/marine-b.html.
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-- 
__________________________________________________
NOTE NEW ADDRESS (As of 01/01/2007 DO NOT USE OLD P.O. BOX ADDRESS):

Michael A. Ivie, Ph.D., F.R.E.S.

For Postal Service, FedEx, UPS or Freight Delivery:

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