I don't think it important whether someone has a science degree or not-they can be self-taught. It matters to me whether they take a scientific approach. Three people I admire more because of lack of degree: Peter Jennings (dropped out of high school, but very well-informed and caring); Tom Dibblee of Santa Barbara-bachelors in Geology-mapped 1/3 of California, wrote some excellent papers; and a research seismologist that I work with (undergrad degree, but decades of excellent published papers). I'll take these guys over someone with a Ph.D who has not produced very much (not referring to anyone here). Chris