Paleontologists

The Earth buries its past. Living things that die and then slowly become part of the Earth are called fossils. This is where the skills of a paleontologist come into play. Their job is to find fossils and study them in order to make sense of what was going on here on Earth for billions of years before there were ever human beings. Learn all about the fossil record, the amazing discoveries and where they were found, and what it takes to become one of these amazing scientists. Put on your gloves and get ready to dig into the world of paleontology! This title will allow students to identify evidence from patterns in rock formations and fossils in rock layers to identify past life of animals or human existence. • Text based questions • Content sidebars • Diagrams • Bold keywords with phonetic glossary

Are you interested in dinosaurs and how they lived? Do you want to travel the world, digging through the earth's history? Then perhaps a career in paleontology is for you! Through first-hand accounts, interviews, and case studies, you'll learn what it takes to be a paleontologist.

This book is a helpful guide to any young person who’s interested in dinosaurs, spends their time collecting fossils, or wonders about the history of life on Earth. Paleontology is the scientific study of life in our planet’s geologic past. Paleontologists study and analyze plant and animal fossils. In this informative volume, readers will learn about what paleontologists do. They’ll research pioneers of the field, review significant discoveries, and consider how paleontological work shapes our understanding of Earth’s history and our place in it.

Not all science happens in a lab! Readers will be transported to the dig site as they learn about these cool scientific careers. They will discover dinosaur fossils with paleontologists and use high-tech analysis to unravel ancient mysteries with archaeologists.

This stunningly illustrated picture book will inspire every budding paleontologist with the impressive words that dino-crazy little kids love to learn--and show off! Featuring more than 50 wow-worthy words, with definitions and phonetic pronunciation, this info-packed picture book will help your little explorer sound like a dinosaur expert in no time. They'll even learn about the right tools to bring to an excavation site! But the fun doesn't stop at just dino names, like Micropachycephalosaurus, which is the longest ever dinosaur name. Kids will get to know prehistoric mammals, like Mammuthus, better known as the woolly mammoth, and ocean creatures, like the giant prehistoric shark that once ruled the sea: the Megalodon. We've also got the cutest little prehistoric creature to guide readers on their journey to becoming a dino digger! Realistic illustrations from Franco Tempesta and fascinating photos will keep every dino-loving 3- to 7-year-old engaged and wanting more.

Paleontology is one of the most visible yet most misunderstood fields of science. Children dream of becoming paleontologists when they grow up. Museum visitors flock to exhibits on dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. The media reports on fossil discoveries and new clues to mass extinctions. Nonetheless, misconceptions abound: paleontologists are assumed only to be interested in dinosaurs, and they are all too often imagined as bearded white men in battered cowboy hats. Roy Plotnick provides a behind-the-scenes look at paleontology as it exists today in all its complexity. He explores the field’s aims, methods, and possibilities, with an emphasis on the compelling personal stories of the scientists who have made it a career. Paleontologists study the entire history of life on Earth; they do not only use hammers and chisels to unearth fossils but are just as likely to work with cutting-edge computing technology. Plotnick presents the big questions about life’s history that drive paleontological research and shows why knowledge of Earth’s past is essential to understanding present-day environmental crises. He introduces readers to the diverse group of people of all genders, races, and international backgrounds who make up the twenty-first-century paleontology community, foregrounding their perspectives and firsthand narratives. He also frankly discusses the many challenges that face the profession, with key takeaways for aspiring scientists. Candid and comprehensive, Explorers of Deep Time is essential reading for anyone curious about the everyday work of real-life paleontologists.

A young boy and his friends dig in their sandbox and pretend to be real paleontologists digging up dinosaur bones, showing what it's like to be a professional paleontologist. Includes hands-on activity and glossary of paleontology terms.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, North American and European governments generously funded the discoveries of such famous paleontologists and geologists as Henry de la Beche, William Buckland, Richard Owen, Thomas Hawkins, Edward Drinker Cope, O. C. Marsh, and Charles W. Gilmore. In Patrons of Paleontology, Jane Davidson explores the motivation behind this rush to fund exploration, arguing that eagerness to discover strategic resources like coal deposits was further fueled by patrons who had a genuine passion for paleontology and the fascinating creatures that were being unearthed. These early decades of government support shaped the way the discipline grew, creating practices and enabling discoveries that continue to affect paleontology today.