Re: A dinosaur named Yonggary

["Jonathan R. Wagner" <znc14@TTACS.TTU.EDU>]

Mary Kirkaldy wrote:
>This happens every day in the life of a paleontologist, and special
>graduate courses address just these preparedness possibilities.
        At Texas Tech we have several courses in these areas... from the TTU
Graduate COD:

GEOL 5344 Introductory Scientific Megalomania (cross-listed as BIOL 5367,
PHYS 5345 and CHEM 5301)
        Students will be introduced to modern concepts of scientific
obsession. Topics covered include immorality in the choice of experimental
subjects, avoidance of conspiracies on the part of the scientific community,
early retirement, clandestine facilities in highland terrain, gloating, and
appropriation and subversion of others' work. Several films will be reviewed
in depth and short critical writing assignments will be prepared.

GEOL 5345 Advanced Scientific Megalomania: Topics in Geosciences
        Topics covered include: building a reputation worthy of sacrifice,
the practice of doctrine-driven theory, advanced righteous indignation,
gloating, justification skills, use of computers and assembling convincing
computer graphics, playing god, and the capture and entertainment of a
worthy adversary. A semester project related to the students thesis topic
will be undertaken, preferrably far from the lights of civilization.

GEOL 5410 Paleontological Crisis Managment (cross-listed as MUSE 5434)
GEOL 5410 - 501 Paleontological Crisis Managment (LAB)
        Three hour lecture with a required one hour lab. Students will be
taken through the steps of paleontological crisis mangament from initial
telephone call through scientist dispatch to eventual triumph against
overwhelming odds. Topics include: negociating with the military, standing
on principles, the dangers of scientific curiosity, urban crisis managment,
giant animal vs. relict vs. extinct creature, identification of problems
beyond the students experience or expertise, the paranormal and what to do
about it, as well as other related subjects. Subject matter is flexible, and
can be expanded to include geologic phenomena with consent of the instuctor.
Laboratory time will be devoted to crisis observation and simulation using
live animals and mineature foamboard cities.

GEOL 5214 Iconoclastic Approaches to Geoscience (Seminar)
        Science as a personality cult is explored. Motivation recognition
and analysis is used as the key to understanding and explaining the
behaviour of famous geologists. Examples will be drawn from paleontology,
including the behaviour of Marsh and Cope, as well as the media-scientists
of the present day.

        (oops, how'd that get in there?)

GEOL 5217 Paleontological Ethics (Seminar, cross-listed as MUSE 5203)
        Discussion topics include: reviving extinct lifeforms for personal
gain, scientific argumentation to justify evil, to dig or not to dig,
cladistics as an end unto itself, how to locate other worker's field sites
using only a Brunton compass and a fieldtrip guidebook, creative
restoration, research and how to fake it, lie with stippling, and other
topics of general interest.



Also check the weekly column in Science, titled (appropriately) "Laughed
out", and the corresponding Nature feature "Derision of their peers."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Jonathan R. Wagner, Dept. of Geosciences, TTU, Lubbock, TX 79409-1053
  "Why do I sense we've picked up another pathetic lifeform?" - Obi-Wan Kenobi