"many of us higher quality scientists" I don't often post here but that is about as arrogant a statement as I have read. It is that kind of thinking that has made me distance myself from much of the ESA community. I have authored or co-authored 30 papers and would never dream of casting myself or anyone else as a "high quality scientist." I'm not sure of the size of your ego but I a dose of modesty might be in order. And as for hard work equalling reward, there is just as much chance involved as there is effort. I have seen too many hard working ecologists suffer at the hands of fate and who you worked for or know. At my first ESA meeting, almost 30 years ago, I was taken aback when the first question people had for me was "who do you work for?" referring to my PhD advisor. Not anything about what I was studying or the quality of my work. Things haven't changed nor will they. I'm only sorry I never knew the right people or went to the right school.
SSS
