A paleontologist is a scientist who studies the history of life on Earth, focusing on organisms which existed in the distant past. Paleontologists are most closely associated with the study of dinosaurs in the popular imagination, but they actually deal with the fossilized remains of all kinds of organisms, including plants, with a specialty known as paleobotany focusing specifically on the history of plant life. This field is intended to provide people with information about the Earth's past, and explanations for how life on Earth reached its present state.

Paleontology is a field in the sciences which includes a blend of the biological and geological sciences. A paleontologist needs to know about biology because he or she studies organisms which were once alive, identifying physical structures in fossils, creating reconstructions of organisms which are long gone, and connecting related organisms with biological markets. Paleontologists are also interested in geological processes, ranging from the processes which contribute to fossilization to the movement of tectonic plates.

People who are specifically interested in the study of older human societies are archaeologists. They handle human remains and artifacts left behind by previous human cultures. Archaeologists and paleontologists may work together on some projects, however. For example, when an archaeologist identifies an earlier human civilization, a paleontologist might be called upon to inspect animal and plant remains at the site to learn more about how those humans lived and when they lived.

Paleontologists are famous for their field work, traveling to sites of interest to study fossilized remains in situ, collect fossils, and gather data on geologic processes. However, they also spend time in the lab analyzing samples of the materials they collect. A paleontologist can rely on some very sophisticated tools, such as imaging machines used to look inside a fossil without damaging it, and equipment which can be used in radiocarbon dating to determine when an organism was alive.

The study of paleontology has contributed a great deal of information to the scientific community. Paleontologists were among the first to suggest that evidence of evolution could be clearly seen in fossils, inspiring scientific thinkers like Charles Darwin to explore the origins of life on Earth, and they have also played a vital role in describing the geologic and climate history of the Earth. People who are interested in a career as a paleontologist can pursue a degree from a college or university with a paleontology department.