I’m a paleontologist. That means I study fossils and learn about the ancient history of life on Earth.
People ask me lots of questions about being a paleontologist, “What do paleontologists do all day? Why do they do it? How can I become a paleontologist?” And, of course: “Where can I see some fossils?”
Here are some tips for people who might want to become a paleontologist.
What is a paleontologist and what do they do?
Paleontologists are scientists who study the history of life on Earth using fossils. Fossils represent the remains or traces of past life, preserved in rocks on or near Earth’s surface.
Paleontologists use fossils to document the world’s plants and animals through time, to work out what ancient climates and ecosystems were like, and to understand evolution and ecology.
Paleontologists have lots of different jobs. We work as researchers and lecturers at universities, researchers at research institutions and government organizations, as museum curators, collections managers, specimen preparators, exhibition designers, palaeo-artists, science educators, and science communicators.
Paleontologists don’t just go out to find and dig up fossils. We also study fossils brought up from hundreds of meters underground by drilling out long, skinny tubes of rock and dirt called “sediment cores.” We prepare the sediment cores very carefully and then study their physical and chemical properties to identify fossils.
Most of the time, paleontologists share their research findings in scientific journals and at conferences. We are also involved in designing public exhibitions at museums and research centers.
Why do paleontologists do all that?
The goal of paleontology is to illuminate the grand history of life on Earth. From the beginnings of life more than 3 billion years ago to the present day, fossils record how it adapted or perished as the world changed.
Paleontology also has lessons from the past that we can use today.
Looking deep into Earth’s history, we see examples of how giant carbon emission events — like those happening now — affected life on Earth. The fossil record repeatedly shows that large carbon releases result in substantial global warming, ocean acidification, and dramatic alteration of ecosystems on land and in the sea.
The effects of these past large carbon releases lasted a long time. Judging by the fossil record, if we burn all the fossil fuels available, it could take 100,000 years for natural processes to soak up all the extra carbon from the atmosphere.
Much of what paleontologists learn from the past confirms other scientists’ grim predictions of ecological disruption. However, fossils also show how ecosystems can return to equilibrium even after a very long period of altered climate if the species that make up the ecosystems survive.
Are there different kinds of paleontologists?
Most paleontologists have a special area of study. The most common areas are animal fossils (vertebrate or invertebrate paleontologists), plant fossils (paleobotanists or palynologists), or microfossils (micropaleontologists).
Some paleontologists also study geological records to provide long-term perspectives on modern conservation and restoration issues (conservation paleobiologists) and to figure out the details of ancient ecosystems (paleoecologists).
How did you become a paleontologist?
In high school, I studied English, geography, economics, mathematics, chemistry, and French. Next, I completed a Bachelor of Science with an honors year, majoring in geoscience.
After that, I received a Ph.D. in geology and a research fellowship at the University of Melbourne, followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution in the United States.
Now, I am a lecturer in environmental geoscience at the University of Melbourne and a research associate at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
How can I become a paleontologist?
Here are my top 5 tips for becoming a paleontologist:
- Learn about the history of life and fossils through reading, visiting museums or parks with fossil displays, and watching documentaries. If you can find fossils near where you live, try to identify them using books or internet resources
- Prepare in high school by studying science and math. Geography and outdoor education are also very useful
- Complete a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in a field such as geology, Earth science, zoology, ecology, evolutionary biology, marine biology, or botany
- Next, obtain an Honors and/or Master’s degree in one of these fields
- Finally, if you would like to become a researcher at a university or museum, you’ll probably need to complete a Ph.D.
Where can I see fossils in Australia?
Australia has plenty of exciting places you can visit to see fossils. A few highlights are:
- the “dinosaur dreaming” dig site at Inverloch in Victoria
- the Riversleigh Fossil Site in northwest Queensland
- the Ediacaran fossils of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia
- the Gogo Fish Site in Western Australia
- and the dinosaur trail taking in Hughenden, Richmond, and Winton in Queensland.
Vera Korasidis, Lecturer in Environmental Geoscience, The University of Melbourne
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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