the role of paleontologists

The role of the paleontologist is not exactly known and perhaps it is believed that he is a person far from social problems. On the contrary, he is a servant of society whose role contributes in various fields that enrich each other through remarkable synergy.

On the one hand, he discovers and studies fossil remains, the existence of which was unknown. In this way, those fossils that are part of the patrimonial heritage of the State (that is, of society) acquire scientific and cultural significance at the national and international level. The fossil is given a scientific, cultural and social entity. In the case of dinosaurs, they receive a scientific name that is recognized internationally. The paleontologist's vocation leads him to search for evolution, climatic changes, extinctions, the history of the Earth. Because he knows, deep down, that the past is the key to understanding the present and anticipating the future.

Second, the paleontologist is a person concerned with the protection of fossil remains and their deposits. For this reason, he works on efforts and projects for their preservation, be it in rescue works, in the creation of paleontological and geological natural areas and parks. Likewise, he focuses on the training of young people in their undergraduate and postgraduate stages until they achieve their doctorate. In this field, teaching is the other side of research, because one should not exist without the other. It is about “teaching science by doing science” to allow young people to have laboratory and field experiences early in their college careers. Another fundamental aspect is the transfer and socialization of knowledge, a task that is carried out through exhibitions, courses, workshops, and even the creation and assembly of museums and laboratories “on sight”. In this way, scientific research, protection of paleontological heritage, teaching and training of human resources, and transfer to society are four gears that, linked together, enhance the growth of scientific culture in society.