Hi, I haven't said much on the list for a while, but I think that this topic
merits some discussion.
As a researcher (and an Australian!) who has had to work in kitchens for the
past four years until luck landed her a great job and introduced her to the
land of snails, I really can't see anything wrong with creating money for
research. I don't know if it is the same anywhere else but money for
research in Australia is exceedingly scarce unless it is industry funded
(which is how I receive my funding).
What a great way to raise some money to research and describe new species.
In the end if the public doesn't fund it then nobody else will!
Angela