Methods & Resources - Why and What?
'We cannot go to the moon by bicycle' - this quotation by mathematician CHEN jingrun vividly captures the importance of methods and resources. Appropriate methods are always necessary, sometimes critical, for solving problems, a core task of science. Resources, loosely defined here to include specialized knowledge and information, software, database and literature (and even just knowledge of expert names), are often limiting factors in one's capacity to do research. If methods can be understood as the know-how, then resources would be considered as use-what.
Here I focus on Methods and Resources used in the fields of taxonomy, phylogenetics and morphology, which have been my research specialty. Taxonomy here concerns primarily with the descriptive aspect. Phylogenetics includes also systematics, cladistics and comparative analyses, the latter increasingly used in ecology and evolution. Morphology intersects with both taxonomy and phylogenetics in that it is a source of character and information, and sometimes the subject of interest (e.g., genitalia has been intensively studied in the topic of sexual selection).
Much of the content and topics is based on my research experience and may not necessarily represent the standard or consensus in the community. Any suggestions or criticisms are very much welcome. I advocate the total accessibility of knowledge. Many similar sites are already in place, although their focus may be different. A comprehensive, editable, community-based platform such as Wikipedia is currently the best means of sharing knowledge. I will be linking to those sites and wiki pages whenever the information is relevant. When the content is mature, I hope to eventually transfer the original information here to Wikipedia or other public sites.
This page is currently being developed and will be constantly updated. Stay tuned.
Here I focus on Methods and Resources used in the fields of taxonomy, phylogenetics and morphology, which have been my research specialty. Taxonomy here concerns primarily with the descriptive aspect. Phylogenetics includes also systematics, cladistics and comparative analyses, the latter increasingly used in ecology and evolution. Morphology intersects with both taxonomy and phylogenetics in that it is a source of character and information, and sometimes the subject of interest (e.g., genitalia has been intensively studied in the topic of sexual selection).
Much of the content and topics is based on my research experience and may not necessarily represent the standard or consensus in the community. Any suggestions or criticisms are very much welcome. I advocate the total accessibility of knowledge. Many similar sites are already in place, although their focus may be different. A comprehensive, editable, community-based platform such as Wikipedia is currently the best means of sharing knowledge. I will be linking to those sites and wiki pages whenever the information is relevant. When the content is mature, I hope to eventually transfer the original information here to Wikipedia or other public sites.
This page is currently being developed and will be constantly updated. Stay tuned.