🚀 go-pugleaf

Someone wrote:
> 
> 
> >While hanging around the library today and thinking about how bored I am 
> >with with lab work, I decided that what I really wanted was to go on a 
> >scientific expedition.  

Many people have answered with high-profile suggestion like National
Geographic and Smithsonian.  Someone even commented on the politics
of fundraising for such expensive ventures.  Most of the posters give
no indication that they have ever done such things themselves.

But the original poster seemed to have more of a casual interest which
would more likely be squashed by high profile fundraising and political
information, rather than encouraged to participate and to explore the
possibilities for him/herself.  I'd like to reassert my suggestion to
join your local natural history museum and add that a local nature
conservancy may also afford you opportunity to get your feet wet in
the field.  While I will likely never publish anything that I've done
in the field so far, I've been a archeological digs, groundwater quality 
data collections and biological surveys.  

A side note on funding.  I personally know people who totally self-fund
their own month-long annual explorations and am sure there are others.

go for it
diane h peapus