The Rising Issues Within Paleontology, Right in Front of You!

A while ago, I was talking to a friend who happens to be into paleontology and the question of, “What’s your favorite dinosaur?” slid into the conversation. For a moment I thought to myself, “Oh easy! My favorite dinosaur is the microraptor,” but as the words came out of my mouth, I found myself hesitating. I shouldn’t have to hesitate… and I definitely shouldn’t be scared to share an opinion that’s seen as “overrated,” but a part of me can’t help but be intimidated by how my answer will dictate the way the community treats me.    

Paleontology, the study of prehistoric life through fossils, has had its ups and downs, specifically with the people in the community. Through personal experience, I found the community to be extremely kind and helpful when it came to providing support for newcomers. However, like most communities, there will always be a few bad apples, but that doesn’t answer the question as to what the real problem with paleontology is.

Paleontology’s biggest problem is gatekeeping. Gatekeeping is the act of withholding information or access to resources, location, group, etc. Like most scientific fields, gatekeeping is rather common in paleontology and unfortunately it’s become way too normalized in the community. People can be mean, especially in the community’s online presence. There’s a place and time for criticism, and it doesn’t have to be all the time. 

An example of gatekeeping in paleontology is the infamous image of two animals cuddling during the Permian Great Dying. Lovingly dubbed “A Triassic Cuddle Set in Stone,” by National Geographic, and discovered by paleontologist James Kitching in 1975, this unique discovery exploded in popularity overnight. However, it didn’t take long for the negative comments to roll in. Some ranged from “Never even dinosaurs btw..” to passive aggressive comments like “Oh wow! I can’t wait for all the larpers to discover paleo!” 

In seconds, the image was seen as “cringe” or “overrated.” All of a sudden people are afraid to show a liking to the discovery without being seen as a “fake fan.” Being labeled as a “fake fan” will open a door of harassment, bullying, and belittling from those who think they know more. Not knowing a niche detail will quite literally put a target on your head. Many of these comments are hidden under the pretense of “educating” the person. While it’s one thing to educate someone on the topic, there is a very fine line between education and straight up bullying. Not knowing one thing about paleo doesn’t make you stupid or a “fake fan,” as a matter of fact paleontology itself is always changing! Not everything is set in stone, so there is no reason for anyone to act like they know the “most” about paleontology- that’s impossible! The main reason why people choose to stray away from the community stems from the very individuals who think they’re above others.

This isn’t just a problem with the community’s online presence but the research field too. Academia is often described as “a snake pit of personality disorders,” by Uppsala University professor Per Ahlberg. You would think the field is a place of growth, and should be a place where people could learn and support each other… but it’s quite the opposite. Paleontology’s academia is riddled with nasty individuals who do anything to make themselves feel special, even if it means sabotaging someone else’s work. Additionally gatekeeping within the academia will look different too. Academia’s gatekeeping focuses on excluding ideas that could be seen as ethically or politically unacceptable, weakening a theory in order to strengthen another, fraud or malpractice, and more. 

Now is the time for change. Paleontology is more popular than ever, with much of the younger generation showing an interest in the field. These persistent issues can not be swept under the rug any longer. We as a community need to start holding people accountable when they’re out of line, even if that means having to step out of our comfort zone. Together we can make paleontology a more welcoming and safe space. It will be beneficial for everyone involved. More people means more opportunities and perhaps pave the way for more positive change.