Editorial: A request for copy

Abstract

At the annual conference of the Society it is always impressive to view the range and quality of the poster presentations, mainly by students. They are a testimony to the interest and enthusiasm of new graduates. It is a sad fact that many of these young experts will be unable to find employment in entomologically related careers. The enthusiasm of government for a return on capital investment in tertiary education, and the pressure to investigate profitable avenues of research means that 'disinterested' studies are discouraged. The depressing consequence is that much of this important work will disappear into theses, and from there gather dust in libraries. A great deal of useful and potentially valuable data is probably lost in this way, waiting to be rediscovered at some later date. It is a sad fact that much of this work is not ready to face the critical test of peer review. Time constraints mean often that the work is incomplete, extra experiments are required, or the techniques used become superseded by better methods, too late for inclusion. Streams dry up, experimental animals become unavailable, chemicals arrive too late, and in general research becomes a victim of 'the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to".