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Researched by Dan O.
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Research Summary
Paleontology is the study of animals, plants, and micro- organisms that lived in the prehistoric times (more than 5,500 years ago.) Paleontology is not the study of humans that lived long ago.
What They Do
Paleontologists study fossils to learn more about the animals, plants,
and microorganisms that lived long ago in the prehistoric times. They also
have the responsibility of studying the bones or marks they find during
their paleological dig. One responsibility when studying bones is
deciding what dinosaurs or other animals that bone or mark belonged to.
Another job they have is if they found a skeleton to put the skeleton together.
Work Schedule
Paleontologists usually have their own work schedule. An example is
that a dinosaur hunter might be busier then a paleobotanist.
Where They Work
Paleontologists work in labs and offices. Some paleontologists work
at home. They also work in the field, in canyons and almost anywhere you
can find sedimentary rock.
Specific Kinds or Categories
Paleontologists organize themselves by the form of life studied. Here
are some of the different types of paleontologists. Palynologists study
tiny to smaller than microscopic forms of life such as plankton or pollen.
Paleobotonists study fossils of plants that are visible to the naked eye.
Invertebrate Paleontologists study animals without a backbone. Vertebrate
Paleontologists study animals with a backbone. Petrographers study the
contents of rock layers. Museum curators are paleontologists who work in
a museum. Some paleontologists work in the oil business. A few find their
way into oceanographic institutes. Stratigraphers are in the mining and
minerals industry.
Tools Used and Materials
While hunting for fossils you will need crowbars, chisels, brushes
of different sizes, sledgehammers, a rock hammer, a small sharp hoe (for
digging in very solid clay.) Then once you get to the lab you’ll use some
of the brushes, and small metal picks, you also might need some small drills.
Computers also will help.
What is Good About This Job
One thing that’s good about the job is that you can find things out
that nobody else knew before you.
Not so Good Aspects
Some major problems are that most of the contents of the earth’s surface
have already been looked at. Another problem is that more and more land
is going into private ownership and most people won’t allow you to go digging
on their property.
Schooling and Training
Some of the more important high school and college classes are biology
and earth science Also you’ll need to take zoology or botany depending
on what branch of paleontology you plan to be in. English, Speech, and
foreign language may also come in handy, as you may go study fossils in
a different land or country.
Minimum Education Level
The minimum education level for a paleontologist is a Doctoral degree.
Licensing or Certification
Paleontologists don’t need to have a license or certificate to get
that job.
Personal Skills Needed
Paleontologists should probably have a natural curiosity about the
world. They should also be inquisitive, and have a fondness of reading
and studying. Good organizing skills may also come in handy.
5th to 7th Grade Classes
In school you need to learn as much as possible about the following.
Science (because you sometimes use zoology or botany.) Geology (to know
the rock layers and what you’d find.) English (so you can write about what
you’ve found.) Math (so you can use geometry and the angle of objects to
estimate distances and have a close answer.) Art (to draw trace or sketch
a map, or draw a picture of what you’ve found, or a picture of what you
think the animal looked like before it died.) Wood shop (to make tool or
organizer boxes.) History (to know what happened when.)
Earnings Range
The earnings range is from about $40,000 to $90,000 depending on your
experience and branch of paleontology.
Outlook
The outlook for paleontologists is that there are more paleontologists
who graduate each year then there are open jobs. Educational jobs such
as teaching paleontology are also disappearing.
History of Career
Humans have been finding fossils for thousands of years. They have
found them while digging for silver, gold, and in riverbanks and cliffs.
I found this in the book Dinosaur Hunters by Kate McMullan. The word "fossil"
is Latin and means, "to dig." It wasn’t until 200 years ago that we knew
what the bones were. For a long time people thought these bones were from
a large creature such as an elephant. But some of the bones were too big
to have come from an elephant. These bones made some people believe in
ogres and giants. In China the bones were thought to be those of a dragon.
The bones were ground into powder and drunk with a potion, supposed to
give them strength. The Native Americans thought the bones were from giant
serpents. About four hundred years ago a man named Bernard Palissy wrote
that these bones were remains of animals. This was not a new idea, but
he also wrote that these animals were no longer living. This idea scared
the people and he was put in jail.
Related Jobs
A related job to paleontology is archeology (the study of past human
civilizations.)
Subjects in College
You have to major in Zoology or Botany depending on the type of paleontologist
you’re going to be. If you’re going to be a palynologist you will need
to major in microbiology. You will need at least a Doctoral degree.
Job Advancement
Job advancement always depends on where the paleontologist works.
Interesting facts
Paleontologists never study human fossils unless it will help solve
a mystery of a fossil. Something is not prehistoric unless it is 5,500
(or more) years old.
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