Les Kermode
NZ Geological Survey Department of Scientific & Industrial Research
AUCKLAND

Management must therefore preserve parks "in perpetuity ... for  their intrinsic worth and for the benefit, use, and enjoyment of the public" yet also "preserve, as far as possible, the park in its natural state" (National Park Act 1980).

"Awareness of a parks natural resources, and management  techniques, adopted  to  ensure  their  protection  will  be  promoted  and encouraged".  So states the National Parks and Reserves  Authority Policy (1982), which adds "land management within parks differs markedly from most other lands where effort is directed towards modifying or controlling nature,  producing crops. or extracting resources".  Thus, conservation-style management should be  practiced in privately owned "parks" and "scenic areas" also.

"The objective of the Waitomo Caves Management Plan is to bring together the most up-to-date information and ideas in order to provide  a  sound  scientific  foundation  on  which  to  base   the management  of  the  caves  and  reserves  and  thus  ensure   their preservation for present and future generations"  (THC 1981, my emphasis).

SCIENCE

Science. according to the Shorter Oxford Dictionary, is a  "branch of study which  is  concerned  either,  with  a connected  body of demonstrated  truths,  or  with  observed  facts,   systematically classified and more or less connected by being brought under  general laws, and which includes trustworthy methods for the discovery  of new truth within its own domain".  The so-called scientific  method, essential to the accumulation of knowledge, requires:

observed or measurable facts,
a hypothesis to guess their inter-relationships,
repeated experiments to confirm the hypothesis,
a law to embody the regularity of the results, and
a theory to explain the rational unity of exercise.

It would seem that the philosophers of science studying logic,  the historians of science seeking progress, and the sociologists of science establishing norms of behaviour have, amongst  themselves, built a conventional ideology of science with its cognitive  structure (that is, scientific method), its verifiability of claims, and  a peer review system.  However, such an ideology goes seriously astray  by focussing on the process of science instead of the motives of scientists whose passions, ambitions, and failings are the same  as in any other walk of life.

In the world of science, the published scientific paper is the measure of the scientist, and the scientist must "publish or  perish" in the career hierarchy.  The system rewards the appearance of success as well as genuine achievement.  Quantity is, too often, more important than quality, and even within the upper ranks of scientists there is a naive, uncritical belief that if a  statement is published it must be true and above being challenged.

The passion to work and to succeed are human enough - it may be  your ambition to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, or to be awarded a Nobel Prize in Park Management.  Together with such an ambition there is often also a strong temptation to indulge in dishonesty and deception, both of which press strongly at all  levels of scientific research and in all fields - maybe less so for the highly mathematised sciences which have a built in protection  against manipulation, but the interpretative and observational sciences  are wide open to unscrupulousness, prejudice, and self-deceit.  The wholesale inventing of data is not common, although it has been recorded.   Scientific  fraud  usually begins with  improving   the existing results by trivial manipulation of the data, selecting  the best data for publication, and ignoring those data that don't  fit the case.

Fraud is always deliberate, self-deception is usually unwitting. There may be some of you who do not include science in your management plan, but how can a cave management, endeavouring "to provide a sound scientific foundation" sort out the authentic  from the spurious.  It is not the existence of fraud and deceit in science that must be rejected, but our own conventional  ideology of science.  Misrepresentation of the truth has occurred throughout  the history of science - Ptolemy, Galileo, Newton, Bernoulli,  Dalton, Peary, Millikan, Burt, to name but a few of the famous.

Sir Isaac Newton lied for the truth and was right;  Sir Cyril  Burt lied for the truth and was wrong.  Each lied to support what he thought he knew to be the truth.  The crime rate in science is influenced by the rewards, the perceived chances of getting  caught, and the personal ethics of the scientist.  Self-deception is  most common in the "research mills", that is the universities, or is committed by loners who have no peer review system.

Science has probably replaced religion as a fundamental source  of truth and value in the modern world.  Science is a social  process for  without  communication  research  is  nothing.   Science   is historical and always progressing, therefore it must be  understood in its context of time and place.  Science is cultural, in that  it encourages  human  rationality.   Fraud  is  a  small,  but  not insignificant, endemic feature of the scientific enterprise,  and the practices or institutions of science should shoulder some of the blame for fraudulent behaviour.  objectivity is often the first victim when scientists enter battle on social issues.

The social organisation of science that rewards careerism also creates the incentive for fraud and self-deception.  The  assigning of credit in the authorship of scientific papers is most  important. All people named as authors should have made a definably major contribution to the work and all authors should be prepared to  take responsibility for its contents in precisely the same measure as they stand to take the credit.  This would curtail the  inherently dishonest practice of research leaders appropriating the credit  for everything that goes well,  and disclaiming responsibility when errors are discovered.

A shameful incident reported by Wade (1975) was the "theft" in  1967 of a Nobel Prize from a Cambridge University PhD student Jocelyn Bell, by her supervisor Antony Hewish who walked off with the  Prize supposedly "for his decisive role in the discovery of pulsars".   In fact Bell really discovered pulsars because she was prepared to search diligently through hundreds of metres of records always maintaining "a willingness to Contemplate as a serious  possibility a phenomenon that all past experience suggested was impossible".   Fred Hoyle, eminent astronomer, described the award as a scandal and accused Hewish of deliberately keeping Bell's findings secret  while her supervisors "were busily pinching the discovery from the  girl".

Too many scientific articles are published, and many are simply worthless.  They prevent good research from receiving the  attention it deserves, and protect bad research from scrutiny.  Science  is not the only cultural expression of rationality.  We should regard scientists with less awe and a dash more skepticism.

HISTORY OF RESEARCH RELATING TO WAITOMO

Waitomo Caves (that is. Glowworm Cave) has been open to paying tourists since 1890. but it was not until 1953, just prior to  the first visit to the cave by Her Majesty the Queen1 that concern  over the deterioration of the cave was. expressed by the New Zealand  Forest and Bird Protection Society.  The famous Lascaux cave in France  was closed to tourists in 1960 because of lampenflora damage to the celebrated prehistoric paintings.  A year later, in Australia,  steam cleaning experiments were commenced in Orient Cave, Jenolan.   Press criticism of overcrowding at Waitomo was made in 1965.

In  1967 concern over silting of Glowworm Grotto stream was publicised,  while  in  the  international  scene  the  national Speleological Society in the United States published a report entitled "Conservation Through Commercialisation" (Gurnee  1967) in which the problem of lampenflora was not addressed.  The  following year, in New Zealand, geological field work in the Waitomo  catchment was  commenced  and  the  National  Water  and  Soil   Conservation Organisation wished to establish a representative karst  catchment somewhere in the King Country. A brief report on the  karrenfield at Waro Scenic Reserve was prepared for Lands and Survey.

In '1969 Lands and Survey, Westland wished to assess the  potential of Metro Cave.  Lands and Survey, Hamilton was concerned about  Waitomo Caves and the deterioration that was probably caused by  tourists. Tourist Hotel Corporation was asked to identify problem areas  in the caves and to make regular observations of them.  Intermittent  studies of cave climate were being attempted in a nearby wild cave.   During that year I visited 28 commercial show caves in eight different countries.

In January 1971 Lands and Survey, THC, and DSIR suggested "the collection of factual information over a period of time'. and  the Waitomo Reserves Planning Committee was established.  The New  Zealand Speleological Society, lacking scientific and management  expertise, declined to Co-operate in any research programme.  Cave guides  were improving their knowledge of the obvious problems, and the local press kept the conservation issues alive.  However, THC  management was still attempting to increase the number of cave visitors.

In 1973 I presented papers on tourism, conservation, and cave development to the International Union of Speleology Congress  in Czechoslovakia.

1974 was a milestone year for science at Waitomo.  DSIR produced conservation reports for Lands and Survey, conducted cave  cleaning experiments,  and  installed  and  tested  instrumentation  for microclimate studies.  The Speleological Society, by definition, should have been an authority on cave sciences, and although it still lacked proven cave research expertise, managed to  produce a briefly research conservation report.  The local newspaper  probably would  not  have  survived  without  its  sensational,   persistent criticism of THC management of the caves.  The general manager  of THC countered  these attacks by organising a public relations exercise,  called Waitomo Day,  where  it was announced  that a generously-funded,   scientific   research   programme  would    be sponsored.  Staff changes at THC Head Office placed Don Evans, a most  valued  and astute administrator,  in  the secretariat.    I recommended  "that Prof. Paul Williams be asked to co-ordinate  and synthesise the university contributions", and cautioned THC  against placing too much reliance on university research programmers  which take the "choice plums" and avoid any important topics because  they are less spectacular. The achievements and chronology of the Waitomo Caves Research Committee,  under Paul Williams as chairman and Don Evans as secretary, are contained in the Waitomo Day Report 1982.  Some additional research projects have been completed since then.   (David Williams  as appointed Caves Manager in January 1978.)  In cave management this research programme was unique in New Zealand,  and probably in the world.

PRACTICE OF RESEARCH

In all management systems money is important, whether it be for profit, or as a perpetual restraint on activities through the inadequate allocation of funds.  From such a pecuniary  perspective it is easy for management to convince themselves that something  that costs nothing is worth nothing, and conversely, something that  costs much is worth much.

University theses are individual projects from which the student attempts to gain maximum academic credit, and supportive  approval from the supervisor.  The supervisor is under pressure of  potential promotion to have as many students as possible gain good marks  for their theses.  It is possible for a thesis to have no editorial review, no refereeing of logic, no checking of observational  data, and no expert criticism of the results.  Therefore, the  scientific community considers theses unpublished until reworked through  the conventional system of reviews and editing.  It is even possible that the appointed supervisor has no expertise in the field of  study being undertaken.  This would be unfortunate for the student and would probably not contribute much to the advancement of the knowledge of that topic.  Both student and supervisor are free  to ignore all previous work by others whether it is good or bad. Post-graduate research often suffers from obfuscation - the art  of using many words without communicating any ideas   too much  jargon, confusing sentence structures, and lack of logical  presentation.  Dr Scott Armstrong,  professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania  said,  cynically,  11The  purpose  of  writing  in   an incomprehensible way is useful to people who have nothing to  say". (Geological Society NZ 1982).

Don't be baffled by science.

If cave management has no means of evaluating the study that  has been undertaken. or has no funds to repeat the results, who or what  is the loser? Obviously to me it is the cave and its visitors.  The  local or national speleological society will be enthusiastic about  giving advice and making criticism, but cave or park management must be cautious.  Before taking any action they must be satisfied that  the preferred contribution is from a group of researchers who have  proven expertise, that the issue is real and not an emotive storm, that adequate relevant data has been collected, and that there has  been an independent evaluation of the project or proposal.  The New Zealand  Speleological  Society  has  among  its  members  many knowledgeable and well qualified people, but as a society, sadly lacks the necessary scientific attributes.  It is predominantly  a recreational or exploration club that produces a widely  distributed bulletin.

At Waitomo there is an important, new, enthusiastic society  that also dabbles in amateur science - the Waitomo Caves Museum Society.   The quality of their publications has steadily improved over four  years (e.g. Arrell 1984).  There has been more good quality scientific information produced about Waitomo Caves, by the Museum  Society1 than there has been for any other commercial cave in New Zealand. Cave management, and speleology generally, both require  acceptance by the public whose confidence in science must not be shaken.

FURTHER CONTEMPLATION OF SCIENCE

With such a diverse assortment of persons wishing to contribute  to the preservation of a cave and to the well-being of its  visitors, the motivation of scientists who participate in research  projects must be understood before an accurate evaluation of their  results can be made.  Again I would like to share with you some  statements from Broad and Wade (1982). who I feel clearly reflect some of  my own experiences during 17 years of intermittent cave research  in the Waitomo district.

* There are those who would stoop to piracy or plagiarism to advance their own careers or. merely for self-aggrandisement

* The rewards in science should go to originality and therefore scientists will strive desperately to establish priority of discovery.

* Failure to acknowledge the work of colleagues or competitors is a form of plagiary.

* Pressures of ambition, the promotion hierarchy, and workload can induce scientists to derive their data from their imagination rather than from observations or measurements knowing full well that it is most unlikely that any one will repeat the work  because of restraints of time effort, or cost.

* Deliberate repetition to confirm scientific conclusions is a philosophical construct of the "scientific method"1 and not an everyday reality.

* The university applicability of laws is an ideal of science. yet  every social hierarchy of science has its elite who are beyond  the restrictions of promotion on merit, or scrutiny by peers.

* Only time will sort out the bad theories and fraudulent  practices.

* The elitism that permeates the world of research ensures that  the feats of scientific celebrities and their proxies will be more widely  noticed  than  the  equivalent  deeds  of  lesser-known researchers.

* Scientists pay a great deal of attention to rank and the pecking order.

* John Herschel, the famous astronomer, said, "one of the students  first endeavors ought to be to prepare his mind for the   reception  of truth, by dismissing, or at least loosening, his hold on all  such crude and hastily adopted notions, respecting the objects  and relations he is about to examine, as may embarrass or   mislead  him."
 
* Scientific textbooks are, in a sense, misleading because they  ignore all  the false leads,  fallible theories1  and failed  experiments that really are such an important part of scientific  endeavor.

* Science is both logical and illogical, rational and irrational.  open-minded  and  dogmatic.   The  exact  proportions  of  each  ingredient vary from one discipline to another depending on   time,  cause, and place.

* Fraud in science is like sin among the faithful - it should not exist - it is unmentionable.

* A master and apprentice relationship unwanted in science is   where  a team leader expects unquestioning corroboration of results   from  junior staff.

* Without audit poor science passes unnoticed into the ocean of unchecked and uncheckable scientific results.

* Science is permeated by clannishness and clubbiness that makes  scrutiny of suspect methods and results a difficult task to  achieve.

* A community of scientists is often all to ready to swallow   intact  a false dogma, providing it is palatable and has the right   amount  of scientific seasoning.

* Data remains unchallenged if it confirms what everybody wants   to  believe.

* Science is not self-policing, scholars do not read the literature
carefully.

* Dogma and prejudice. when suitably garbed, creep into science just as in any other human enterprise.

ACHIEVEMENTS

I have insufficient time to list all the scientific and   management  reports and publications of the Waitomo Cave Research   Programme, New  Zealand Speleological Society, Waitomo Caves Museum Society,   Tourist  Hotel Corporation, Waitomo Reserves Planning Committee,   University  of Auckland, University of Waikato, Department of Scientific and  Industrial Research. Department of Lands and Survey, New Zealand  Forest Service, Ministry of Works and Development, Waitomo   District  Council, and Waikato valley Authority that relate to Waitomo   Caves.  Among them is some brilliant science, some thorough research,   and  many thousands of hours of hard work.  Unfortunately there are   also  some documents that deserve nothing better than the rubbish   bin.

What I do think is deplorable, especially for the excellent work  completed, is that the results have not been disseminated widely  enough.  Have you in your various organisations and locations   access  to important discoveries and conclusions from Waitomo?

Others  here will tell you how much the results of the research  programme have been incorporated into management at Waitomo,   and  during the week you may see for yourselves problems that have   still  to be solved.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion I would suggest that management must understand   or at  least appreciate    the need for scientific cave research  the on-going nature of the accumulation of data  the pitfalls of science in practice (as noted earlier)  the resources - administration. the cave, the staff, finance.

As a cave or park manager you could ask yourself the following questions:

1 How do I know that I have asked the right questions about the caves I manage?

2 How do I know that I have received the best answers to my questions about the caves?

3 How can I be sure that the appropriate follow-up action will  be taken?

4 How can I be sure that the best course of action for the cave   and  its visitors is not overruled in the future by an unsympathetic  administration?

REFERENCES

Arrell, R. 1984: Waitomo Caves : a century of tourism. Waitomo Caves, New Zealand, Waitomo Caves Museum Society
72p.

Broad, W.; Wade, N. 1982: Betrayers of the truth. New York, Simon and Schuster.  256p.

Gurnee. J. (Editor) 1967: Conservation through  commercialisation. Rio  Camuy  development  proposal.National  Speleological Society Bulletin 20(2): 27-69.

Massie, J.L. 1971: Essentials of Management. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice-Hall.  257p.

New Zealand National Parks Act 1980.

New Zealand National Parks and Reserves Authority draft general policy 1982. 50p.

Wade, N. 1975: Discovery of Pulsars : A graduate students story. Science 189 :358-364.

Waitomo Caves Management Plan 1981 : Tourist Hotel Corporation.   49p.

Waitomo Caves Research Programme 1982 : Waitomo Day 1982.  40p.