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The Association Upcoming Meetings:
10th
CAVEPS and Quaternary Extinction Symposium CANQUA June 5-8, 2005 2nd
International Congress
The Quaternary Times Directory of Quaternary Scientists 2005 Northeastern Friends of the Pleistocene meeting Quaternary-Related Journal Discounts Quaternary Job Opportunities Quaternary-Related Abstracts Quaternary-Related Links Society of American Archaeology Fellowship Announcement Search the AMQUA Site
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Quaternary Sciences Beyond the Horizon Russ Graham, AMQUA President Charles Dickens' opening line of the Tale of Two Cities (These are the best of times;
these are the worst of times!) seems appropriate for Quaternary sciences today. All
aspects of Quaternary science are relevant to solving and avoiding problems facing our
society. Clearly, Quaternary scientists will assume, and have assumed, leadership roles in
working with Global Change. The Quaternary is the bridge between the recent and the deep
past. In other words, Quaternarists can work at varying time scales not readily available
to other scientists studying modern or pre-Quaternary systems. For instance, ecologists
can study biological systems and document variation on daily, seasonal, annual, and in
some cases decadal scales. For some systems (tree rings, corals, proboscidean tusks,
etc.), Quaternarists can also examine these same narrow slices of time. However, modern
ecologists can not look at trends at the century or millennial levels, and beyond, which
are readily discernible in the late Quaternary. It is the long term trajectories, and the
Quaternarists, which will really be important in planning for the future; whereas, the
shorter term intervals may be essential for crisis management. Quaternarists also tend to
be more interdisciplinary than other scientists. Consequently, Quaternarists will be
critical to integrating various studies. Understanding and modelling biodiversity is not
just a matter of inventorying biotas or designing refuges; it also requires knowledge of
how biotic systems interact with their physical world (climate, soils, etc.), and human
impacts. For these reasons, Rita Colwell (Head of NSF) prefers the term
"biocomplexity" to "biodiversity." As stated in Geotimes (November,
1998:10), Dr. Colwell believes that "To accomplish this [a thorough understanding of
biodiversity], the science community needs to be more comfortable with the dialogue beyond
its own inner circles." I can not think of a better description of a Quaternary
scientist. In the last decade, the Quaternary sciences have developed a variety of new
journals to address both the needs of the profession as well as to open more dialogue
between scientists in different disciplines. Research data bases are another area in which the Quaternary sciences seem to excel.
The Paleoclimate Program at NOAA is an outstanding example. These data sets are readily
available for any scientist to analyze. In the information and pc computer age, data can
be obtained, manipulated, and analyzed rapidly. Our science can only benefit from this
revolution and future data bases will increase our investment in the Quaternary, like
money in the bank. Also, data bases have helped standardize the collection of data.
Finally, since these data sets are automated, they can be updated frequently. However, as
any good scientist knows, it is foolish to try and analyze and interpret data outside of
your area of expertise. So again, I believe Quaternary data bases will foster greater
interdisciplinary research for Quaternarists by attracting those outside of our
disciplines. Technological breakthroughs have also revolutionized our science. AMS 14C dating is one of the best examples. By being able to date smaller samples, scientists have been able to obtain dates on material which before was considered undatable. Also, AMS dates have permitted critical assessment of other dating techniques, as well as other 14C dates, like bulk sediment samples from cores. Methodological advances have also refined our ability to produce accurate and precise dates. Advances in remote sensing have also helped refine our study of earth and biotic processes. The future is bright in this arena. Indeed, it is the best of times!!! Although the Quaternary is relevant to so much in our world and outside of it, some
programs have declined. Numerous Quaternary scientists have resigned in the past and their
positions have not been filled with other Quaternary scientists. I do not mean with the
same type of Quaternary scientist but these positions have not been filled with any type
of Quaternarist. Obviously, there have also been gains in other areas. But diminution of
entire programs like the one at the University of Alaska are troubling. I do not pretend to know the answers but I am very interested in learning about them.
From my perspective as a paleobiologist, I think part of the problem arises ironically
from one of our strengths. It is because the Quaternary does form the bridge between
neontology and pre-Quaternary sciences. As a Quaternary paleobiologist, I am generally not
considered as an ecologist or paleontologist - I fall between the cracks but I have the
potential to unite the other two. In essence, Quaternarists need to inform other
scientists and the general public about our science and its strengths. For most scientists, popularization of science almost seems heretical. However, unless
we disseminate scientific information in a palatable and understandable form, it will not
be read or generally known by others outside of our discipline. I do not mean that we need
to water down our science or prostitute it to the level of "Indiana Jones."
Stephen Jay Gould has down an excellent job for paleontology. Dale Guthrie with Frozen
Fauna from the Mammoth Steppe and Scott Elias with his National Park series and other
books on Quaternary beetles have spear headed Quaternary topics. We need more of this in
our discipline. Furthermore, new technologies will provide us with novel ways and venues
for presenting our science. The CD-rom is an extremely important tool which can be used,
and has been, by various Quaternary scientists. I think it is also essential that we use
our science to develop curricula for secondary schools. It would be easy to devise
automated programs to teach evolutionary biology by using Quaternary examples. We are only
limited by our imagination. Obviously, this takes away from research time but I think we
all need to consider it as an investment in the future of our discipline. |