A CURE for the taxonomic impediment: Injecting diversity into taxonomy through large-scale research courses

Taxonomy is described as a “field in crisis” due to the decline in number of active taxonomists. Proposed solutions to the taxonomic impediment call for increased research funding, support for positions at natural history museums and research collections, and use of technology to increase the rate of new species descriptions. However, these solutions don’t address the real need: transformation of the taxonomic training process. We propose a new approach to radically expand and diversify the next generation of potential taxonomists: taxonomic training through authentic research in undergraduate courses. Results from a 45-student, multi-institution Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE), focused on authentic ant taxonomy (genus Nylanderia) research, show this model to be a rapid and efficient approach that engaged a diverse pool of students in taxonomy. Few students started the course with interest in taxonomy, although all were interested in scientific research. After the course, the majority of students reported positive change in knowledge about and attitude toward the importance of taxonomy, and approximately 20% of the class reported intent to pursue classes, research, and/or careers focused on taxonomy. This training pipeline differs from the historical apprenticeship model in that it offers meaningful experience in taxonomic research, including producing publishable results, at large scale. Taxonomists need to proactively attract and train the next generation of scribes to catalog life on earth; we cannot sit and wait for them to come to us one-by-one. The CURE model is one step in that direction.