Aetogate: asking for answers in New Mexico

Wed Feb 17 14:21:11 GMT 2010

Jeff Martz
Mike Taylor
Matt Wedel
Darren Naish

We are aware of scientific publications emanating from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (NMMNHS) which appear to usurp the work of others without credit and to claim-jump names that others have planned to attach to taxa.

We have documented these issues as clearly as possible and invite the wider scientific community to decide for themselves whether our complaints are valid or not.

Status as of Wed Feb 17 14:21:11 GMT 2010

Twenty-one months have passed since the SVP released its findings, such as they were. The victims of Aetogate are now trying to put this episode behind them get on with their research and their lives. Any attempts at reprisals seem to have been unsuccessful.

Was it worth pursuing this, or did the SVP's non-decision render it all pointless? The final statement of Martz, Parker, Taylor and Wedel gives our sober perspective of how things turned out. For a more personal and less guarded view, see We're going to need a bigger ethics committee.

The allegations

Press coverage

Outside commentary

If anybody has anything they would like us to add to this page, please email us at nm@miketaylor.org.uk with your comments, thoughts, documentation, opinions, etc. We are keen to hear what the palaeontological community thinks.

Finally, nothing would please us more than to find out that all of this has been a series of unfortunate misunderstandings. We particularly invite the NMMNHS staff at the centre of these events (Lucas, Hunt, Spielmann, Heckert) to contact us and explain how these events have occurred.