Endangered Species: Doctoral Students in Systematic Entomology

In 1992, a survey was made of the number of doctoral students in insect systematics in 56 academic departments of entomology or related sciences in the United States and Canada. The purpose was to evaluate the human resources available to sustain insect systematics into the next century and to support the biodiversity inventory. There were 111 students reported in 1992, down from 155 in 1982. If this 28% drop is extrapolated, then the number might reach zero by 2017. Already 40% of the departments surveyed that have insect systematists on their faculties have no doctoral students in insect systematics.