Re: publication

[Tom Holtz <tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov>]

>Does palentology have anything along the lines of peer review before
>findings are published, or is the rush to claim one's discovery so
>overwhelming that situations such as this protoavis arise?

The mainstream of paleontological science is published in peer reviewed
journals (Nature, Science, Journal of Paleontology, Journal of Vertebrate
Paleontology, Palaeontology, Paleobiology, and many more in English,
German, French, Spanish, Portugese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, etc.).

However, before the technical publication comes out, many are tempted to
release their discoveries by non-peer reviewed means.

>Does this
>question make sense? If, let's say one of you palentologists were to
>stumble on what appears to be the find of the century, wouldn't you have
>to run your findings past a blind peer review board or something before
>you send it in to Science or Nature? If not, why not?

It makes sense, and it is most often done that way.  I will not speculate
publically why some people feel that they should publish results in the
press before the data have been reviewed.

[I can say that at least some news services check their information with
outside sources before going to press.]

And of course, to have your data cited and/or your newly proposed names
considered valid, they must be published in a peer reviewed journal.

                                
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.                                   
tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov
Vertebrate Paleontologist in Exile                  Phone:      703-648-5280
U.S. Geological Survey                                FAX:      703-648-5420
Branch of Paleontology & Stratigraphy
MS 970 National Center
Reston, VA  22092
U.S.A.