Re: SVP statement on Dr. Rensberger-Burke Museum

[Dinosaur World <dinoworld@msn.com>]

But his illegal collecting DID personally benefit him. Certainly anyone who 
is making fossils available to the science community is going to be viewed 
as a value or asset to that community. Just because he did not accept an 
actual paycheck does not mean he didn't benefit.

His income, no matter where it came from, is going to be impacted by his 
"perceived value" to those who pay him or give him his grants. That "value" 
is based on what he did for Paleontology. So the idea that did not benefit 
from his illegal activity because he didn't get a check handed to him for a 
specific fossil is, in my opinion, wrong.

If we look for reasons to excuse what he did, then shouldn't we applaud the 
private collectors for their impact on the economy?

George





From: Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com
To: dinosaur@usc.edu
Subject: Re: SVP statement on Dr. Rensberger-Burke Museum
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 12:48:20 -0500

Michael Schmidt wrote:

> The lack of interest, Bob, I believe is simply embarassment on belalf of 
> the academic community.

Maybe, maybe not.  It may have something to do with this...

"...but the SVP Ethics Education Committee concluded that the fossil 
collections resulting from Dr.
Rensberger's fieldwork are properly deposited in a public institution (the 
Burke Museum) and have
been well curated by Dr. Rensberger and the current curatorial staff of the 
Burke Museum."

Which, to me, says that these discoveries were not for personal monetary 
gain, and the specimens in question were/are available to science.  These 
discoveries remain "properly deposited in a public institution", rather than 
gathering dust in a private collection or ending up on eBay.  That counts 
for a lot in my book.  I shudder to think how many invaluable fossil 
discoveries never get to see the light of day because the collector(s) sell 
their collections privately for a fast buck, or keep them stashed under the 
porch.

Cheers

Tim

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