古生物学是生命史的科学检验。古生物学家研究地球的化石和地质记录，以便在地质和进化背景下建立活生物体的历史。地球上的生命史也向我们介绍了整个地球系统的发展（生命与地球的共同进化）。对地球系统的研究涉及了解过去的环境，包括海洋，大陆，大气层和生物圈，以及这些环境是如何随着地质时间而变化的。对过去地球系统的了解有助于我们了解地球的未来轨迹，包括气候变化和灭绝。在本专业中，您将深入研究岩石，矿物，沉积物和化石等地球材料的关键地质特性，以及控制地球系统和主要生物地球化学特征和演化的生物和地球化学系统之间的联系和反馈
Palaeontology is the scientific examination of the history of life. Palaeontologists study earth's fossil and geological record in order to establish the history of living organisms in geological and evolutionary contexts. The history of life on earth also informs us about the development of the whole earth system (the co-evolution of life and earth). Study of the earth system involves understanding the past environments, including oceans, continents, atmosphere and biosphere, and how these have changed over geological time. A knowledge of past earth systems helps us understand earth's future trajectory, including climate change and extinctions. In this specialisation, you'll delve deep into key geological properties of earth materials such as rocks, minerals, sediments and fossils, and the links and feedbacks between bio and geochemical systems that govern the characteristics and evolution of the earth system and major biogeochemical cycles. You'll study fascinating episodes in earth history, including mass extinction events, major evolutionary periods, snowball earth events, large igneous provinces and ocean anoxic events. You'll learn to use paleontological data and principles along with geological field and lab techniques to solve complex biological, ecological, environmental and geological problems. You'll systematically collect, record, evaluate and interpret qualitative and quantitative data to construct and validate scientifically relevant arguments, and you'll be able to communicate and justify your conclusions to diverse audiences across many fields.