Any fan of the hit TV show, “Friends” knows two things: Rachel’s haircut and Ross’ dino obsession. If you want to be more like your favorite television character and are interested in paleontology, then you may want to know how to get started in your new career choice.
Let’s take a closer look at paleontology as a career. After all, you wouldn’t want to start down a new path only to discover it’s more like “Jurassic Park” than “Central Park.”
What is Paleontology?
Many people wrongly assume that paleontology is merely a study of dinosaur fossils. While looking at and searching for fossils is a part of the job, there is much more involved. Most paleontologists look at fossils from a variety of plant and animal species.
The fossils could range from a single-cell organism to the Tyrannosaurus Rex and everything in between. A paleontologist tries to make sense of the geological past and the evolution of many different kinds of species, including dinosaurs.
Where Do Paleontologists Work?
Many paleontologists work outside the office. They spend a majority of their days sifting through fossils and ancient ruins looking for clues to understand why and how a specific species evolved. They conduct research in a laboratory environment and work closely with natural history museums. Remember, Ross worked for the Museum of Natural History in NYC. Some paleontologists also choose to teach instead of doing field research.
What Kind of Schooling is Needed?
If you want to be a paleontologist you will definitely need more than a high school education. You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree. You may find that the school you choose doesn’t offer a bachelor’s degree in paleontology. In fact, it’s very uncommon for a school to offer this specific degree. Instead, you can choose a bachelor’s degree in Geology or another science-related field.
Most people who want to seriously pursue a career in paleontology will go on to get a master’s degree and a Ph.D. Once you get to the master and Ph.D. levels, you will be able to specialize in paleontology. This is where more in-depth field work and actually study about dinosaur fossils will come into play.
Your coursework could include classes like invertebrate and vertebrate paleontology, micropaleontology, and biology classes. You’ll take advanced courses in math and science, especially in your undergraduate studies. Once you get to graduate school, math and science classes will actually become prerequisites for getting into your specific program.
While you will spend most of your class time in math and science classes, you’ll also need to have a good command over the English language. Writing and grammar classes may also be required for your program. As a paleontologist, you’ll need to know how to write well so you can prepare reports and present papers at conferences. Every career field needs people who are proficient in the English language.
CONCLUSION
If you want to follow in Ross Gellars’ footsteps, and make the latest evolutionary discovery, study hard and stay focused and you’ll be well on your way to reaching your goal of becoming a paleontologist.
Authors bio is coming up shortly.
