Since I was not privy to the initial exchange, I'm not sure what "new material" they were referring to. I try to annually or more often glean the professional journals at the closest university for current research and new information. Those vocal students are also probably not aware that we have a frequent participant here that is a noted fisheries professor that authored & edited one of their text/reference books. They probably would not have made that comment ("elementary") if they were were truly knowledgable/wise. Also probably not all of those students were agreeing with the spokesman for the group, I think of their behavior as being similar to or having the qualities of "greensunfish".
Some young book smart and research paper learned students think they "know it all" until they get perplexed by the real problems of complex interactions of frewhwater ecosystems. Lakes do not read the books and do not always follow the theories as the book explains it. Also, only a "few" of all the problems and unknowns of these systems have been researched. Been there, done that both ways.
They too will maybe become application wise with age if they actually have to apply their knowledge to solve real problems and their income/family depends on their ability to perform successfully outside the bounderies of academia. Grades are one thing; paychecks are another.
I say let them wallow in their fresh academic knowledge. Time will work its game on them. That's why they are called students.
