Things To Know About Paleontology
Paleontology is the study that refers to the history of the earth, which is well-respected in the fossil remains and deposits from millions of years. It is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses other disciplines like anthropology, biology, geology, etc. The people who study this branch are called paleontologists. They generally study the fossil that remains under the ground, which helps understand human evolution and other organisms with geological history.
If you have watched Jurassic Park, you know what we’re talking about! However, it is not just about dinosaurs but much more than that – it involves the study of fossil remains of other animal species and ancient humans.
This article has mentioned some important points about paleontology that are important to know!
It comprises different subdisciplines.
As mentioned above, this multidisciplinary field is rich in study and information which comprises different fields like:
- Micropaleontology which includes the study of microscopic fossil remains
- Paleobotany which includes the study of different plant fossils
- Palynology which includes the study of spores and other pollen demotions produced by various plants which land on other species or plants
- Invertebrate paleontology, which deals with the study of fossil remains of invertebrates, and so on
It is a relevant field.
While some might argue about the existence of the field, others find it equally necessary to study the scientific history of the world we live in! It helps us better understand the life that existed on planet Earth millions of years ago and helps predict other species’ life spans. It allows us to place other living organisms in nature’s evolutionary and geological context. This allows us to study the significant characteristics of other living organisms and their biological significance to the environment.
It provides an excellent career prospect.
Paleontologists are of different types, and professionally, they can vary from people teaching in schools to playing vital roles in the discovery of new species which existed millions of years ago. A majority of them work in the field of academia, and many others also opt for different branches like geological survey, commercial oil, gas, and coal sectors for different companies, geoscientists, oceanographers, museum curators, and many more.
The field’s career prospects provide many growth opportunities for people who possess research and analytical skills, which also plays a significant role in the sector.
A Ph.D. is a must
For people willing to pursue the career option, post-graduation in the field is a must. Over the years, different universities have recognized and embraced the field’s existence. Also, they offer different graduation and post-graduation programs to help students learn and understand the past of the earth and other species which lived on it.
