Dunwoody Pond: Reflections on the High Plains Wetlands and the Cultivation of Naturalists

John Janovy Jr. is an excellent writer on the science of biology, especially from the perspective of the field biologist. Field biologists have to deal with whole organisms and ecosystems. While molecular biology gives us very important information and undeniable, even vital, understanding of basic biological processes, the dismissal of whole organism and ecological studies by some practitioners (James Watson comes to mind) is short-sighted to say the least. To do biology one has to work with all levels, and as Janovy points out in "Dunwoody Pond: Reflections on the High Plains Wetland and the Cultivation of Naturalists" molecular biologists usually of necessity deal with only a hand full of organisms compared with field biologists. In essence we need both perspectives to really understand the subject. Janovy takes many of his examples from the various graduate students that he has had who studied parasites in aquatic organisms at Dunwoody Pond and associated wetlands in Nebraska. All of his graduate students found endless fascination in the structure and life cycles of the parasites found in minnows, damselflies, beetles, and other pond animals. Janovy captures the excitement and intellectual stimulation about the study of nature at the organismal level - something that is rapidly vanishing in the profession at many universities, along with their natural history collections and museums. I think that this type of research may soon again become the realm of experienced amateurs, who do not have to justify their work to grant committees or administrators. The modern university (like most modern institutions) seems to be mostly about the business plan and making money. I am reminded of the animated discussions on biology and many other subjects over fried chicken and pizza (with a pitcher of beer) at a local student hangout in Tucson, while I was a graduate student at the University of Arizona. It is now difficult to find such enthusiasm over so many subjects and usually both professors and graduate students are hung up over minutiae of funding, subjects that can be funded, and keeping up with only their narrow specialties in their reading. I hate to say that there were "good old days" (I have, for example, little use for the 1950s as an exemplar of a golden age), but in this case and in this specific context, there may have been. John Janovy has captured the excitement and enthusiasm of a day that may never come again, once it finally expires (as several of their wetlands did during the writing of the book!) Janovy goes on to discuss various aspects of teaching biological sciences, ecology and basic biology especially. His discussions with students who still find their happiness in the field are especially enlightening, as the students (like my associates at Arizona) are both in love with their subject and still conversant with other aspects of life. To me this proves that one need not be narrow to work in the sciences, but perhaps I

John Janovy Jr. has captured the wonder and passion of following one's bliss. His book is an exploration and illustration of the phrase made famous by Joseph Campbell and of James Hillman's idea that within each of us resides the "acorn" of what we are destined to become. How better to explain the fascination Janovy's young students find in parasites too small to be seen without a microscope and too discounted to draw dollars for those who study them? Janovy celebrates his students' questions, sacrifices, and achievements. He must be a wonderful teacher! And this is a book that teachers will want to read, particularly those who seriously reflect on how it is that a student's interest gets captured. It isn't that Janovy has the answers. It's that he raises such interesting questions.