Smith J, Dowding E, Abdelhady AA, Abondio P, Araújo R, Aze T, Balisi MA, Buatois LA, Carvajal-Chitty H, Chattopadhyay D, Coiro M, Dietl GP, González Arango C, Kevrekidis C, Kimmig J, Mychajliw AM, Pimiento C, Regalado Fernández OR, Schroeder KM, Warnock R, Yang TR, Yasuhara M, Akita LG, Allen BJ, Anderson BM, Andréoletti J, Archuby FM, Ballen GA, Bari MI, Benton MJ, Bergh EW, Brambilla L, Brombacher A, Chan YKS, Chiarenza AA, Chinzorig T, Coates KM, Cordie DR, Cortés-Sánchez M, Cruz-Vega EJ, Cybulski JD, De Baets K, De Entrambasaguas J, Dillon EM, Du A, Dunhill AM, Erlandson JM, Forel MB, Foster WJ, Gates TA, Gavryushkina A, Grace MK, Grossart HP, Hänsel P, Harnik PG, Hopkins MJ, Hopkins SS, Hu K, Huang HHM, Irmis RB, Jaques VA, Jenkins XA, Jukar AM, Kelley PH, Kihn RG, Klompmaker AA, Kocsis Á, Kriwet J, Lazarus D, Liao CC, Lin CH, Louys J, Lozano-Fernandez J, Lozano-Francisco MC, Lueders-Dumont JA, Malvé ME, Martindale RC, Mazzini I, Modenini G, Mondal S, Mondini M, Monferran MD, Mulvey L, Nanglu K, Nguyen JM, Norris R, O'dea A, Ollendorf AL, Orihuela J, Pandolfi JM, Pereira T, Piro A, Plotnick RE, Plaza-Torres SM, Porto A, Prieto-Márquez A, Punyasena SW, Quental TB, Raja NB, Ranaivosoa V, Ribas-Deulofeu L, Rivals F, Roden V, Rosso A, Saleh F, Salvador RB, Saupe EE, Schneider S, Sclafani JA, Smith MR, Souron A, Steinbauer MJ, Stewart M, Tambussi CP, Thomas E, Tschopp E, Tütken T, Varela S, Vezzosi RI, Villaseñor A, Weinkauf MF, Zanno LE, Zhang C, Zhao Q, Kießling W (2025)
Publication Type: Journal article, Review article
Publication year: 2025
Paleontology provides insights into the history of the planet, from the origins of life billions of years ago to the biotic changes of the Recent. The scope of paleontological research is as vast as it is varied, and the field is constantly evolving. In an effort to identify "Big Questions"in paleontology, experts from around the world came together to build a list of priority questions the field can address in the years ahead. The 89 questions presented herein (grouped within 11 themes) represent contributions from nearly 200 international scientists. These questions touch on common themes including biodiversity drivers and patterns, integrating data types across spatiotemporal scales, applying paleontological data to contemporary biodiversity and climate issues, and effectively utilizing innovative methods and technology for new paleontological insights. In addition to these theoretical questions, discussions touch upon structural concerns within the field, advocating for an increased valuation of specimen-based research, protection of natural heritage sites, and the importance of collections infrastructure, along with a stronger emphasis on human diversity, equity, and inclusion. These questions offer a starting point - an initial nucleus of consensus that paleontologists can expand on - for engaging in discussions, securing funding, advocating for museums, and fostering continued growth in shared research directions.
APA:
Smith, J., Dowding, E., Abdelhady, A.A., Abondio, P., Araújo, R., Aze, T.,... Kießling, W. (2025). Identifying the Big Questions in paleontology: a community-driven project. Paleobiology. https://doi.org/10.1017/pab.2025.10042
MLA:
Smith, Jansen, et al. "Identifying the Big Questions in paleontology: a community-driven project." Paleobiology (2025).
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