Malaysia needs more palaeontologists

A file photo of a Tyrannosaurus rex at an exhibition in Paris. Lim says more awareness at the secondary school and university level about palaeontology could spark interest in this field. — Reuters

The study of ancient life needs new energy and more people specialising in it in Malaysia. Palaeontology, the study of prehistoric life is an area that should be expanded to reach its full potential here.

“I’ll give a resounding ‘Yes’ that we need more palaeontologists in Malaysia. There are very few here. Within Malaysia, there are perhaps at most eight experts in vertebrate palaeontology,” says Lim Tze Tshen, president of the Palaeontological Society of Malaysia, tells Sunday Star.