In our country, many parents have two career paths for their children, either it is to become an Engineer or a Doctor. Currently, the other trend is to do Computers or IT and rake in the moolah as India has emerged as the IT hub. Parents shift their focus elsewhere only if the child has no interest or fails to get a seat in the choice of their course. There are many courses now that children can study and secure their future. Students who have an interest in the study of fossils of extinct species of plants and animals can become a Paleontologist and unravel many mysteries. According to academicians there is a need for paleontologists from now until 2016.
For many the mention of Paleontologist and it is the picture of dinosaurs and Flintstones coming to the mind. Scientists state that it is a study of fossils that traces past life form, such as bones, shells, plants, tracks, trails and even coprolites (fossil feces). A Paleontologist studies fossils that existed as life forms in geologic and pre-historic times and compares it with the present day life forms. Most people confuse Paleontologist with archaeologists and anthropologists. The basis of Paleontology exists in geology and all natural forms from the Earth.
The job of a Paleontologist is to conduct research on pre-historic life forms and evolution of plant and animal life. The paleontologists have the knowledge of preserving the fossils for transportation to museums and research institutes. All these have to be handled very delicately as they are millions of years old.
By the study, a paleontologist establishes the fossils age, petroleum exploration and ancient environments. Coal, oil and peat are important fossils. Paleontologists working in the petroleum industry use fossils to draw geological maps to help in finding oil, water and minerals. Academicians state that one needs an in-depth knowledge of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock to clearly identify the fossils. One is aware that igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks form in natural processes during chemical change and cling to life forms under the rock thus becoming the study of fossils.
Education
To become a paleontologist one needs to do a master’s or doctorate in paleontology. For this a Bachelor’s degrees in geology or earth sciences is essential. Paleontologists can specialize in vertebrates, invertebrates, micropaleontology, paleobotany, taphonomy, biostratigraphy and paleoecology. Another area of specialization is determining the age of fossils. This is done in two systems of dating - absolute or relative. Absolute dating gives the age of a rock or fossil in years, while relative dating does not bank on the actual numerical age of the rocks. In this, dating is done as the Ordovician, Cambrian or Silurian periods. Students pursuing master’s in paleontology are given training at the varsity and receive hands on experience while working with research institutes.
Employment Scope
Paleontologists can find employment as faculty members in universities or study the evolution of plants and animals in private research facilities. Some of them after gaining valuable experience can work as project managers or senior researchers on various government or privately funded research projects.
Paleontologists who take up field work have to face tough weather conditions. They may be sent to far away places and may also have to carry their own luggage consisting of research equipment.
In a media report, when questioned on what prompted dinosaur expert Don Lessem to become a paleontologist, he said that watching a T. rex, the full-sized skeleton at a museum in New York, from close quarters prompted him to take up study of dinosaurs. He said that he studied living animal behavior in school and keeps writing about dinosaurs and paleontologists as it is an interesting subject.
He said that to become paleontologist, one needs to study biology and all about living animals, including statistics in college and get a doctoral degree or at least a master's. Do and write a lot of research papers, he added. Currently, there are only 100 paleontologists in the world and only 40 digging dinosaurs each year. Advice to budding paleontologists is to study dinosaurs or whatever other fossil one’s interested in. Enroll with museums and go on digging schedules to know the job on hand.
Lessem said that his exciting discovery was going back to where Roy Chapman Andrews, the real Indiana Jones, found the first nests of dinosaurs in Mongolia. He said that he went with some explorers who found a tin cup Andrews actually drank out, and lot of dinosaurs, from eggs to little baby armored dinosaurs so small that they were without armors.
In India, only one institute offers a course in paleontology that is the Geological Survey of India, Bandlaguda, Hyderabad. In the near future, one hopes many other institutes would offer courses in paleontology. Institutes offering the course abroad are:
International Paleontological Association
University of Kansas
http://ipa.geo.ku.edu/index3.html
The Paleontological Society
Lancaster
http://www.paleosoc.org/
Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences
Logan
http://www.aaps.net/
Northwest Paleontological Association
Kenmore
http://www.nwpaleo.org/
The Paleontological Research Institution
Ithaca, NY
http://www.museumoftheearth.org
For many the mention of Paleontologist and it is the picture of dinosaurs and Flintstones coming to the mind. Scientists state that it is a study of fossils that traces past life form, such as bones, shells, plants, tracks, trails and even coprolites (fossil feces). A Paleontologist studies fossils that existed as life forms in geologic and pre-historic times and compares it with the present day life forms. Most people confuse Paleontologist with archaeologists and anthropologists. The basis of Paleontology exists in geology and all natural forms from the Earth.
The job of a Paleontologist is to conduct research on pre-historic life forms and evolution of plant and animal life. The paleontologists have the knowledge of preserving the fossils for transportation to museums and research institutes. All these have to be handled very delicately as they are millions of years old.
By the study, a paleontologist establishes the fossils age, petroleum exploration and ancient environments. Coal, oil and peat are important fossils. Paleontologists working in the petroleum industry use fossils to draw geological maps to help in finding oil, water and minerals. Academicians state that one needs an in-depth knowledge of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock to clearly identify the fossils. One is aware that igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks form in natural processes during chemical change and cling to life forms under the rock thus becoming the study of fossils.
Education
To become a paleontologist one needs to do a master’s or doctorate in paleontology. For this a Bachelor’s degrees in geology or earth sciences is essential. Paleontologists can specialize in vertebrates, invertebrates, micropaleontology, paleobotany, taphonomy, biostratigraphy and paleoecology. Another area of specialization is determining the age of fossils. This is done in two systems of dating - absolute or relative. Absolute dating gives the age of a rock or fossil in years, while relative dating does not bank on the actual numerical age of the rocks. In this, dating is done as the Ordovician, Cambrian or Silurian periods. Students pursuing master’s in paleontology are given training at the varsity and receive hands on experience while working with research institutes.
Employment Scope
Paleontologists can find employment as faculty members in universities or study the evolution of plants and animals in private research facilities. Some of them after gaining valuable experience can work as project managers or senior researchers on various government or privately funded research projects.
Paleontologists who take up field work have to face tough weather conditions. They may be sent to far away places and may also have to carry their own luggage consisting of research equipment.
In a media report, when questioned on what prompted dinosaur expert Don Lessem to become a paleontologist, he said that watching a T. rex, the full-sized skeleton at a museum in New York, from close quarters prompted him to take up study of dinosaurs. He said that he studied living animal behavior in school and keeps writing about dinosaurs and paleontologists as it is an interesting subject.
He said that to become paleontologist, one needs to study biology and all about living animals, including statistics in college and get a doctoral degree or at least a master's. Do and write a lot of research papers, he added. Currently, there are only 100 paleontologists in the world and only 40 digging dinosaurs each year. Advice to budding paleontologists is to study dinosaurs or whatever other fossil one’s interested in. Enroll with museums and go on digging schedules to know the job on hand.
Lessem said that his exciting discovery was going back to where Roy Chapman Andrews, the real Indiana Jones, found the first nests of dinosaurs in Mongolia. He said that he went with some explorers who found a tin cup Andrews actually drank out, and lot of dinosaurs, from eggs to little baby armored dinosaurs so small that they were without armors.
In India, only one institute offers a course in paleontology that is the Geological Survey of India, Bandlaguda, Hyderabad. In the near future, one hopes many other institutes would offer courses in paleontology. Institutes offering the course abroad are:
International Paleontological Association
University of Kansas
http://ipa.geo.ku.edu/index3.html
The Paleontological Society
Lancaster
http://www.paleosoc.org/
Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences
Logan
http://www.aaps.net/
Northwest Paleontological Association
Kenmore
http://www.nwpaleo.org/
The Paleontological Research Institution
Ithaca, NY
http://www.museumoftheearth.org
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