How to become a palaeontologist - we hear from 12 professionals about their journey

01:10 Sophie Kelly (just completed masters)
04:54 George Young (just completed masters)
06:56 Adele Pentland (PhD candidate)
17:02 Felix Marx (Curator vertebrates)
22:23 Alan Tennyson (Curator vertebrates)
27:06 Cheng-Hsiu Tsai (Associate professor)
32:18 Andrew Cuff (Postdoc researcher)
37:52 Nic Rawlence (Associate professor)
44:54 Carl Mehling (Senior museum specialist)
57:08 Mary Chitjian (Archeologist)
01:04:27 Keely Sweeny (Fossil prepper & business owner)
01:09:57 Al Mannering (Fossil prepper)
Here are the social media and other links:
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Adele Pentland:
Adele's Instagram: / palaeodel
Adele's website: www.adelepentland.com/
Pals in Palaeo Instagram: / palsinpalaeo
Pals in Palaeo Podcast website: palsinpalaeo.com/
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Alan Tennyson
Instagram: / alanalbatross
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Cheng-Hsiu Tsai
University profile: homepage.ntu.edu.tw/~deptlife...
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Andrew Cuff
KZbin channel: / @dinoskool
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Nic Rawlence
Twitter / X: / nic_rawlence_nz
Articles: theconversation.com/profiles/...
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Mary Chitjian
Instagram: / archpaleomonitor
TikTok: / archpaleomonitor
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Keeley Sweeney
Website: www.fossiloasis.com/
Instagram: / fossil_oasis
TikTok: / fossiltok
KZbin: / @fossiloasis
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#dinosaur #paleontology #fossil

[@MamlamboFossils]

A huge thank you to all the amazing paleo people that took the time to talk to me in the video! Check the video description for all the social media and other links. Please get in touch with me if you would like to be involved in the next "How to become a palaeontologist video"

[@sandmaker]

This was a really good introduction to how you start into paleontology. I thank you and all your guests for participating in this, very enlightening. As always, your the best! See you next time.

[@MamlamboFossils]

They were really amazing!! I loved hearing all their origin stories!

[@fossiloasis]

Thank you for having me join in, I loved the variety of careers presented here! Well done 👏🏻

[@MamlamboFossils]

It was so awesome having you part of this video Keely!!

[@DreadEnder]

You were in here? Awesome! I can’t wait to see the rest.

[@kittycatkeirra]

What an amazing video. I wish I had something like this when I was younger. It's so valuable hearing about people's journeys and pathways - and super heartening. I think for most young people its difficult to imagine where your passions can take you - who knows how many jobs are out there!

[@MamlamboFossils]

I'm really glad you enjoyed it! It's so cool seeing everyone's passions and what they are into!

[@Ewald644]

Really a amazingly interusting video and definitly gives people many perspectives on how to be a part of this great community!

[@MamlamboFossils]

I'm glad you like it!

[@ccccarriemchardy9216]

Aspiring discussions, their enthusiasm is heartwarming and it gives people another side to look at.

[@MamlamboFossils]

It's so cool seeing how passionate everyone is about their roles!

[@alisav8394]

Great level-headed advice from Felix! Wish him all the best

[@MamlamboFossils]

That was really good advice! Giving it a go if you are passionate about it

[@kakapokhaos]

A truly spectacular crew of inspiring stories!! ✨⛏️

[@MamlamboFossils]

I love hearing the origin stories!

[@catherine59226]

I enjoyed this very much. Thank you.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Yay! I'm stoked you did!!

[@dinoskool]

Thanks for having me on. Was great to chat and I hope this video inspires some future palaeo workers!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much for sharing your journey with us Andrew! I'm loving following along on your KZbin channel as well! Here is his channel for anyone else wanting to check it out: www.youtube.com/@dinoskool

[@dinoskool]

@@MamlamboFossils my absolute pleasure and I'm glad you enjoy. Excited to start doing more prep again soon too!

[@DreadEnder]

Awesome to see you! I knew you were a good collector and preparator but I didn’t know you were a palaeontologist! Just got to your section, and I have to say, YOU’RE FROM BRISTOL??? That’s where I live and study and I hope to get into Bristol university in a couple years, I actually recognise you I might have seen you at Bristol University a while back during my work experience or open days, that or fossil hunting at Aust.

[@DreadEnder]

@@MamlamboFossilsthanks

[@dinoskool]

@@DreadEnder The palaeontology career has very much been the biggest focus of my adult life out of those listed things. Since moving up to Yorkshire I have enjoyed getting out collecting again, and the prep is very much a work in progress! I am not from Bristol originally, but spent 7 years there (from 2006-2013) doing my undergrad and PhD before moving on for my postdoctoral roles. Loved the city, and recommend the uni and staff for the palaeo very highly.

[@linuskorff4074]

This is great, since I wish to become a paleontolegist, since I was always fascinated by fossils. I will 100% watch this to the end once school is over 😊

[@MamlamboFossils]

Nice!! I hope it helps!

[@linuskorff4074]

@@MamlamboFossils It gives a nice and detailed insight into paleontolegy, got more information and motivation from it, since I really want to become a paleontolegist, since I have a lot of fossils, finally decided to write some dokuments about them.

[@MamlamboFossils]

@@linuskorff4074 That is awesome! Have you got a museum close to you where you can volunteer at all?

[@linuskorff4074]

@@MamlamboFossils The closest is in Muenster, not sure if they actually offer something close to that, but I already prepared a copple fossils, currently writing a document about a certain fossil specimen I find quite often.

[@DreadEnder]

Hey Linus long time no see!

[@amechealle5918]

My Grandfather became a paleontologist by accident. He was a geologist and was working on a project with a group in Florida in the 30’s. He found a partial skeleton of a water mammal not found before that had a relation to a porpoise (I can’t remember what era) it was even named after him. He was hooked after that. As soon as he finished his chemical engineering degree he studied paleontology. Went on many more digs in Utah, Arizona and back to Florida. Soon he got married and started a family but kept up his work. In all he had multiple degrees in engineering, agriculture, anthropology and paleontology. Even after he retired he’d still go in and edit classes so he could keep up on current practices and information. He loved that I was as fascinated as he was and I inherited all of his notebooks and photos of his trips and worksites. P.S. he was about 23 when he found the first fossils

[@MamlamboFossils]

Your grandfather sounds like such a fascinating person! What an inspiration!

[@amechealle5918]

@@MamlamboFossils He really was, he was my best friend. The man could do anything, he came from a great generation.

[@DreadEnder]

What was his name, I might be able to identify the genus.

[@DreadEnder]

Amazing story!

[@janvafa9959]

Thank you for all this wonderful information in one place!

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure!! Let me know if you have any other questions I can get answered in the next video!

[@josephcormier5974]

Very well done sir a very informative and enjoyable video keep up the amazing work six stars brother

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much Joseph!

[@pockettt]

awesome, im an aspiring and this video is amazing!

[@MamlamboFossils]

I feel the same way!! They were all so passionate about their work!

[@okeating3663]

I enjoy learning as much as i can about paleontology. It was a something I wanted to do in high school. I even wrote a book report and passed with an A. But sadly I was told girls don't do things like that. Guidance counselor strongly said to forget about it, telling me not only did women Not work in this field, but I would not get any loans for college. Heart broken I just went on with life. However I still enjoyed watching any show that had dinosaurs, books, magazine articles of new dinosaurs. Later after having my son I made him a dinosaur player, with plants , hills and as many dinosaurs I could find. Now at 63 yo, I wish I found a way to fulfill my wish. Living on the north east of the USA there are not many fossils to be found. The one thing I have always wished I could do. Dig up a fossil. At least I showed my son real dinosaur foot prints in rock on a hill side. The closest I have ever come. Today I am pleased that women are on the field. It proves to me anyone can do this and love it. I do love watching you find fossils in rock. Thank you for each speciman you find.

[@MamlamboFossils]

There might still be a way to be involved in palaeontology! Email your local museums and see if there are some volunteering opportunities, they always need help organising their collection. I am sorry that you were discouraged from pursuing your dream, everyone should have the opportunity to pursue a career in paleo.

[@okeating3663]

@@MamlamboFossils I wish I could, the two museums I would go to alot growing up is were I learned many things. Sadly I no longer live near them. Also healthwise I am limited . Thank you for the suggestion, I had never thought of that later after being out of school. However in the summer time I visit a beach with rocks that are over 450myo. Found it fascinating, but since the coast line was very volcanic back then, most fossils are mere specs. Its still a great beach to visit and I'm always looking for som we thing different. I just need to becareful walking. Again thank you for the suggestion.

[@DreadEnder]

People who say others can’t work in a job for whatever reason, are terrible at that job.

[@ianstewartbrown5308]

I remember back in 1974 going to see our careers master in school, I walk in and he asks me what I want to do when I leave school, I say I'd like to be a palaeontologist, he replies "there's no money in it" and proceeds to hand me several application forms for various local factories!! I've never lost my interest in fossils and dinosaurs (I'm 66 now) and my four year old grandson has taken an interest so he is keeping me going

[@MamlamboFossils]

Ah that is so bad from the careers master! But you are inspiring your grandson, the next generation will have so many more opportunities to make an impact in science

[@DreadEnder]

It depends on what you do in it. I talked to some palaeontologists at Bristol University and they said that one of their friends (also a palaeontologist) earns £15,000 a month working with oil companies. Of course you may not want to do that for environment reasons but there can be some good money in it. Of course it’s not a job you’d want to go into just for the money. It’s a passion project. And screw your careers master, that’s not appropriate for them to say that.

[@susanselko-millman4889]

😲 very learned individuals

[@MamlamboFossils]

But still very down to earth!!

[@DreadEnder]

18:47 which is why I’m applying for my masters there.

[@MamlamboFossils]

That is awesome!

[@BabyBoomersDoomer]

8:42 he's having organic chemistry flashbacks ❤😂

[@DreadEnder]

Haha yeah

[@linuskorff4074]

Also would love to chat with you honestly, always amazed by your discoveries and finds, I did send you a message on Instagram, I also have a collection of different fossils, some that will be checked out in april, since I may have found bones over the time that I had been collecting so far.

[@MamlamboFossils]

I've just emailed you!

[@DreadEnder]

I recently joined something called MyFossils which has an app and website where you can publish your collection and others can identify and look at them. It’s got a few palaeontologist and fossil hunters. Like myself that could help identify anything!

[@linuskorff4074]

@@DreadEnder Thanks for the information! Appreciate it a lot!

[@piotr_jurkiewicz]

What do you feel knowing that best fossils are being sold in the black market like SMF R 4970 was? Almost no one waits for paleontologist, locals just digg stuff out and sell the shiniest specimens to China or US.

[@DreadEnder]

It’s unfortunate. It is illegal to take or sell significant fossils internationally without a license. But it should just be illegal to sell scientifically significant fossils in general. Look at the recent Apex Stegosaurus.

[@harryverboom4032]

Can i email you i found a big bone at my work when we were digging maybe you know what kind of animal it is because its a weird looking bone

[@MamlamboFossils]

Of course! [e-mail]

[@spikewillow4552]

If you do something you love then it’s not a job ehh? N life is about doing stuff you love not sitting in an office crunching numbers

[@MamlamboFossils]

I think most jobs have some really fun parts and some boring parts 😂