In the fossil record they call it punctuated equilibrium. You just blink and, wham, a species appears in a bedding plane. This is my current bedtime reading. I selected it for its research relevance, but it's quickly becoming a page turner with familiar characters whose situation I can relate to. Were the first few pioneer individuals of a species intimidated by the big ecological niche waiting to be conquered? As I move to my new lecturer position, I ponder this with some empathy. "Whose group are you working for?" is becoming a common question when I meet new faces at coffee time. It's as if they're asking, "So what species are you?" My reply: "My own." For the first time in my career I am not starting a job as part of a research team. I'm starting alone. Of course I still have distant collaborations, but nothing nearby. My group must grow if it is to persist.
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