6.6 People are important
Environmental field research does not occur in isolation, it is people-orientated and invariably enhanced by teamwork, social interaction and endless discussion and conjecture involving many collaborators with different roles. Over almost 60 years, changing personnel of key team members over successive generations also occurs. These include scientific “champions” of the research site who formulate key research questions, secure funding and are often imaginative thinkers with a long-term perspective. Equally, the intellectual gene pool needs to remain open, new cohorts of PhD students and post-doctoral researchers provide the tenacity and drive to make research happen, extend the boundaries of understanding of the site and disseminate research findings. But the bedrock of successful scientific function are dedicated, skilled and determined technicians who year-after-year, day after day, and in all weathers operate the fish traps, do the electrofishing, download data loggers and empty samplers, in addition to many other essential services.