STATUS AND FUTURE OF HUMAN RESOURCES IN COCCIDOLOGY

Abstract

STATUS AND FUTURE OF HUMAN RESOURCES IN COCCIDOLOGY.

This paper reviews responses to a survey on the current status of researchers active in coccidology, with an emphasis on systematics but including work on morphology, biology, ecology, biological and chemical control of scale insects and on preparation of data bases. The 39 responses provide a short assessment for 38 countries and 15 U.S. States, with the activities and/or whereabouts of about 243 researchers. Thirteen of the 32 active researchers (41%) will reach retirement age within five years; however, the average time to retirement for this group was 11.7 years. There has been a decline in the number of women in graduate training, while, from the 17 graduate students being trained in coccidology, only six are doing research in systematics.

Key words: funds, training, public awareness, research areas.