Re: Is the Aerosteon paper full of hot air?

[dinoboygraphics@aol.com]

If I may, I'd like to reinforce Mark's suggestion that all people with 
an interest in dinosaur research read the two SVPOW postings about 
Aerosteon.  It brings up an issue that was already causing me 
tremendous cognitive dissonance, but with the clarity and (and incisive 
wit) that comes a deeper familiarity with the specific literature:

http://svpow.wordpress.com/2008/10/04/the-aerosteon-saga-part-1-introduction-and-background/


Scott


Scott Hartman
Science Director
Wyoming Dinosaur Center
110 Carter Ranch Rd.
Thermopolis, WY 82443
(800) 455-3466 ext. 230
Cell: (307) 921-8333

www.skeletaldrawing.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Witton <Mark.Witton@port.ac.uk>
To: dinosaur@usc.edu
Sent: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 6:07 am
Subject: Is the Aerosteon paper full of hot air?



Hi folks,

If you're looking for something to procrastinate with on a dreary 
Monday
lunchtime, I heartily recommend checking out the latest SV-POW! posts. 
For a
change, this week's articles are not long, long descriptions of bits of 
sauropod
vertebrae that no-one else even knew existed, but are discussions of 
the science
and ethics that accompany the recently published _Aerosteon_ paper. You 
can find
part 1 here:

http://svpow.wordpress.com/2008/10/04/the-aerosteon-saga-part-1-introduction-and-background/

and it's sequel:

http://svpow.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/the-aerosteon-saga-part-2-overinflation-and-undercitation/

Recommended reading for anyone with an interest in performing and 
publishing
scientific research, I reckon.

So long,

Mark

--

Mark Witton

Palaeobiology Research Group
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Portsmouth
Burnaby Building
Burnaby Road
Portsmouth
PO1 3QL

Tel: (44)2392 842418
E-mail: Mark.Witton@port.ac.uk