The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)

falky · 2011-10-23 02:26:17

For any of you that contact me at work, please note that I leave the Museum this Friday so please remove my stevenfalk-at-warwickshire.gov.uk from your address books. I'll let you know my new work E-mail once I have one (a job!). You can also contact me at home via this Forum's off-line E-mail facility.

Just for information, I am the last traditional keeper of natural history in the West Midlands region. There were about 10 of us when I first arrived in the region 21 years ago. As of Friday, there will be none. Its an appalling state of affairs, esp given the high profile of the natural history/biodiversity agenda. Natural History is also the best vehicle for museum community engagement in my opinion, and the only discipline in which local museums could really claim to change the world (via local environmental improvement projects, feeding into the planning system and defending local wildlife sites. It says a lot about the museum industry that it values natural history expertise so little. Hopefully I'll find a better place from which to peddle my trade. But be careful about where you donate your insect collections!

I've left a little legacy at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/rings. Nothing dipterological, but if you like trees, bumblebees and flowers have a quick look.

Falky

Alan Outen · 2011-10-23 11:38:32

Dreadful Falky. Very best wishes for your future. I wholly agree with your sentiments above. I am appalled by the lack of regard for natural history expertise and its imprtance in this Country at both local and national government level. Luton Museum has just made its Curator of Natural History redundant ending over 70 years of continual natural history representation,. The museum holds the second oldest herbarium in the UK.

Best wishes

Alan

falky · 2011-10-23 20:17:14

I guess that will be my mate Paul Hyman (we were colleagues at the Nature Conservancy Council, 1985-1990). Plenty of social historians, archaeologists and geologists left in museums (albeit often rebranded as 'collection managers'). Strange how the brain-drain of natural historians has been so pronounced. But speaking for myself, I've always felt like a square-peg in a round-hole -doing what I think as right for the museum and the users, but with a very different approach to the other disciplines (e.g. lots more outreach, lots more popular articles, much more proctive in seeking new audiences througout the county). Never felt this was fully understood or appreciated. But this experience might serve me well in the next phase of my life.

conops · 2011-10-31 23:53:54

I don't think falky is dreadful.

oceanlis2000 · 2011-11-03 14:16:05

I agree with you Falky, hugely

I'm in the same position too, I have until April and then I have to find a new job! more needs to be done for conservation in this country however with your expertise and contacts I'm sure you'll find something soon and if you're interested in coming to Wales I hear that there will be a National Museum of Wales in Cardiff (finance secured)!

Good Luck

oceanlis2000 · 2011-11-03 14:17:26

Now to my question am I right in thinking that Phaonia scutellata has never been found in Wales and is deemed now to be Extinct in the UK, a terrible shame if so

I've got the NBN Gateway Link
http://data.nbn.org.uk/gridMap/gridMap. … 0000030816

but could do with a second opinion as datasets are not for Wales

Last edited by oceanlis2000 (2011-11-03 14:20:40)

falky · 2011-11-04 00:54:07

Oceanlis 2000 (who are you by the way? would be embarrassing if I know you and don't realise it) - according to Stuart Ball's recent muscid tome produced for the 2010 muscid workshop, it has not been found in Wales and data is sufficiently old to put it in the Extinction category. But with flies like this, you can NEVER be certain. But it can be confused fro the common P. tugurionum, and any new record will need to be validated if the recorder is not experienced with muscids. But lets hope it is still knocking about.

Good luck with your career too,

Falky

oceanlis2000 · 2011-11-05 14:06:07

I wonder

As I understand it it's a matter of a slight difference in palpus colour in the basal part- there may be other features but I'm not yet aware of them.

My Name is Elisabeth A. Harris and we have never met so no need to be embarrassed!

My project is called Powys Flora Conservation- my main area is therefore plants and I have them everywhere, garden, greenhouse, seed bank and all over my desk as I still haven't got round to bottling them all up yet! The project has given away free wild flower plants and seeds and I also undertook the Welsh Orchid Survey (data on NBN database)

My interest in flies started with hoverflies c. 2 years ago but I also took photos of other flies for our database, since then I've got the bug and it's always a buzz to find something new!

paddy · 2011-12-02 02:31:55

Good luck falky. Really Sad news. reflection on this age of stupid

falky · 2011-12-02 03:28:36

Thanks Paddy,

It may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Falky

muscapaul · 2011-12-02 11:13:25

We anxiously wait to hear the reason for that...

The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)

#1 2011-10-23 02:26:17

Steven Falk is leaving Warwickshire Museum on Friday 28th October

#2 2011-10-23 11:38:32

Re: Steven Falk is leaving Warwickshire Museum on Friday 28th October

#3 2011-10-23 20:17:14

Re: Steven Falk is leaving Warwickshire Museum on Friday 28th October

#4 2011-10-31 23:53:54

Re: Steven Falk is leaving Warwickshire Museum on Friday 28th October

#5 2011-11-03 14:16:05

Re: Steven Falk is leaving Warwickshire Museum on Friday 28th October

#6 2011-11-03 14:17:26

Re: Steven Falk is leaving Warwickshire Museum on Friday 28th October

#7 2011-11-04 00:54:07

Re: Steven Falk is leaving Warwickshire Museum on Friday 28th October

#8 2011-11-05 14:06:07

Re: Steven Falk is leaving Warwickshire Museum on Friday 28th October

#9 2011-12-02 02:31:55

Re: Steven Falk is leaving Warwickshire Museum on Friday 28th October

#10 2011-12-02 03:28:36

Re: Steven Falk is leaving Warwickshire Museum on Friday 28th October

#11 2011-12-02 11:13:25

Re: Steven Falk is leaving Warwickshire Museum on Friday 28th October

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