Bubba,
A few things to address. Yes, they are just rules. And, yes, the folks in charge are not acting professionally. And, yes, professors and universities dont care much about high school dropouts (unless they are minorities! lmao).
But
I dont care. And I would be the one leading the research team. And the conference group. And the excavations. I DO care about your demeanor, spirit, and ability to work with others while doing a task effectively. I dont think that will be much of a problem with MDers, but believe me that if anyone wanting to tag along were found out to be a negative person or someone with not much experience, they would be weeded out. I use the term 'negative' here loosely because I dont want to use foul language
One more thing: My dad was a high school dropout. He did pretty well for his family despite almost losing the house in the 70s recession. He and mom never were rich, still aren't, but taught my brother and I values and how to respect your fellow man. He also taught us how to whoop some a$$ if someone didnt respect us. Believe me, I do rub elbows with the academic elites. Some of whom you may have seen on Nat Geo, History, Discovery, or nightly news outlets. So what. I have also rubbed elbows with coal miners, Blackfeet and Cherokee, hillbillies in the depths of West Virginia and Kentucky, and even a tradesman or two. I dont walk with a chip on my shoulder nor should anyone on this venture. So dont worry about your past. Its all about who you are now, how you treat others, how well you can research and MD, and who you want to be. And, I suppose, where you would like to see this to go in the future.
Idealistic? Perhaps. But I do have a plan. And I do have my foot in the door. With experience on both sides. And great contacts on the other side. When I get back in the swing this coming school year, I will be pushing this plan until I find a backer. Then two. Then three. Then I will start approaching all of you. The first time might not seem like much. But it will be a monumental bedrock to build upon for the next one. And so on.
Keep hitting me with questions. Start thinking how it may work from your perspective and what, specifically, you want from such a venture. Think big, think small, then hit me with it. The more I have a clear idea of what MDers realistically want, the easier it will be for me to put it in writing for the academics in language they understand.
-e