For #FossilFriday: sharing this thread from paleontologist Andy Farke, who emphasizes the critical importance of *basic fossil studies* in providing the foundation for larger-scale "Big Data" investigations. Field and collections work is so, so very critical to the science. 🧪
@andyfarke.bsky.socialHot Take for #FossilFriday - the quest to make paleontology "useful" and "relevant" and "high impact" has backfired spectacularly. A hypothetical "Big Data Approaches to Deep Time Ecosystem Services" almost always end up largely disconnected from actual fossils. (thread) <1/n>