geology or biology?

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I believe that the debate over whether paleontology "belongs" in biology
versus geology is a false dichotomy.  Paleontologists can come from either
field and find jobs in either field as well.

Like some of the previous posters, I, too, did stints in both types of
academic departments (MS & PhD in geology, a postdoc in biology, now a
faculty position in geology).  I have found myself to be quite comfortable
in either field--and equally uncomfortable as well.  As someone who is
interested in interactions between lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere,
and biosphere, I find myself too interested in paleoceanography and earth
system science to fit completely into biology and too interested in
evolutionary and ecological theory to fit completely into geology.

I think my inter-disciplinary interests were allowed to develop when I was
an undergraduate in the now-defunct Paleontology Department at UC Berkeley.
I understand that my bachelor's degree in paleontology was one of the last
in the U.S.  Because we were our own separate entity, we did not have to
make clear-cut distinctions in our research interests--we were interested
in earth AND life history.

But at the same time, it was a good growing experience for me to leave the
relatively sheltered life within a department devoted entirely to
paleontology and face the real world.  It has forced me to hone my skill in
justifying my research and in explaining the relevance of paleontology in
both life AND physical sciences.  I think a good paleontologist must know
something about both fields and can consider applying to jobs in either.
Clearly some people will have interests that naturally lend themselves more
to one field or another--but I believe there are a number of
paleobiologists/geobiologists/paleoecologists/etc. out there who can't be
pigeon-holed into one discipline.  And I think this is a good sign for the
field of paleontology--a diverse portfolio is more likely to weather
economic crashes!

Carol


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Carol M. Tang
Assistant Professor
Department of Geology
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ  85287-1404

602-965-9878
602-965-8102 (FAX)
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