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.
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