Question: How do you become a paleontologist ?

Hannah Cornish answered on 23 Jan 2019:

Hi Margoth,

Most palaeontologists have a degree in geology or earth sciences, and then a masters degree and/or a PhD. Science and maths are good subjects to study at A-levels if you want to do a geology degree.

Joining a geology club (like rockwatch http://www.rockwatch.org.uk, website seems to be down today) is a great way to get some practical experience of palaeontology. You can also find out more about palaeontology at your local museum, and at events like the Festival of Geology (here at UCL in November, this website is from last year https://geologistsassociation.org.uk/festival/) and Lyme Regis Fossil Festival in May https://www.fossilfestival.co.uk/. Festivals are great because there are lots of geologists and palaeontologists there who will answer all your questions, and you can have a go at practical things like finding fossils and making fossil casts.