Introduction to Paleontology Specialty Paleontology is an undergraduate major in ordinary colleges and universities in China, which belongs to geology major. The basic study period is four years, and the bachelor of science degree is awarded.
Paleontology is an interdisciplinary subject between geology and biology, which mainly studies biological relics and trace fossils preserved in geological history in strata.
This major trains compound and applied professional and technical personnel with good scientific quality, basic knowledge and experimental skills of geology, paleontology, evolutionary biology and fossil energy, basic knowledge of museum science, laws and regulations on fossil protection and fossil restoration skills, and can engage in research or management of paleontology and biological evolution, paleogeography and paleoenvironment, fossil energy, fossil protection and natural museums and related fields.
Paleontology graduates are mainly engaged in archaeology and cultural relics protection, junior high school teachers, environmental protection technical engineers and other positions.
Employment prospects of paleontology major: Paleontology graduates are mainly engaged in scientific research and teaching or teaching assistants in scientific research institutes and universities; Scientific research or management personnel of natural museums such as paleontology, national and provincial nature reserves and geological parks; Fossil managers of the administrative departments of land and resources; Research and experimental personnel of petroleum, coal and geological survey departments.
At present, China's paleontology talent team is seriously shrinking, the gap between old and new talents is particularly serious, and the reserve talents are obviously insufficient. Many geological prospecting units are even more embarrassed that "no one is doing paleontology work".
Therefore, it has become an important subject to cultivate and maintain a team of high-level paleontological professionals who can adapt to national construction and international frontier research and better serve geological prospecting. In addition, the low income of employees engaged in paleontological geology is also an important reason for the continuous brain drain in this field.