Valerie Varnuska lives in Westbury, New York and enjoys visiting the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, her favorite museum. Paleontologists play a key role in creating exhibits for the museum by studying fossils to understand evolution and the history of life on Earth. Those in this profession can specialize in areas like microfossils, plants, or human fossils and typically work as researchers or professors, publishing their findings.

1. Paleontology as a Profession
By: Valerie Varnuska

2. Paleontology as a Profession
Westbury, NY resident Valerie Varnuska lives close enough to New York City to enjoy the
advantages of suburbia while having access to resources in the city. In addition to the many dining
establishments, theaters, and shopping centers in New York City, which is roughly 25 miles from
Westbury, Valerie Varnuska can take advantage of the numerous museums. One of these
museums, the American Museum of Natural History, Valerie's favorite, features the culmination of
years of work by some of the world's most renowned researchers.

3. Paleontology as a Profession
Among the various scientific disciplines of those serving the museum, the paleontologist plays a
huge role in the creation of the museum's exhibits. As a part of their profession, paleontologists
study evolution through fossils and preserve the histories of animals that are no longer in
existence. In the course of field work, someone in this profession collects samples and gathers
data from lakes, soil, and ice sheets, all for the purpose of understanding the history of the earth
and the life that once lived upon it.

4. Paleontology as a Profession
Those choosing this career path can find themselves working in a number of fields. Micro-
paleontologists focus on microscopic fossils, paleo-botanists study fungi and plants, and human
paleontologists study the fossils of prehistoric humans. These are just a few of the many areas a
scientist can focus on. Paleontologists can be found working as researchers or professors in
colleges and universities, where they often publish their findings in academic journals.