Santiago, Chile, February 26, 2024 — Chile is about to rewrite the playbook for science education with the launch of the nation’s first-ever Bachelor of Science degree with a focus on Paleontology. Think Indiana Jones, but with more rigorous coursework and a lot less running from boulders.
A New Degree Digs Into the Past
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The University of Atacama will offer the groundbreaking program, blending biology and geology in a way never before seen in Chilean higher education.
- The degree is the first of its kind in Chile, formally integrating paleontology into an undergraduate curriculum.
- It aims to address a shortage of skilled paleontologists needed for environmental and heritage assessments.
- The program leverages the Atacama Desert’s unique geological landscape as a natural laboratory for research.
- A Master’s Degree in Paleontology and Evolution is projected to launch in the second half of 2026.
The announcement came this Monday at the National Museum of Natural History in Santiago’s Quinta Normal Park, coinciding with the closing of the hugely popular “Dinosaurs of the South of the World” exhibition. Officials highlighted the degree as a crucial step in developing Chilean scientific expertise and decentralizing knowledge.
Bridging the Gap Between Biology and Geology
Philippe Moisan, associate professor, paleobotanist, and director of the Department of Chemistry and Biology at the University of Atacama, explained that the degree arose from a need for specialized science training in the region. “The University of Atacama and the region did not have a science degree,” Moisan said. “With the potential of the desert as a natural laboratory, paleontology, the environment and botany, we needed training that would allow us to develop research and train students.”
Traditionally, paleontologists have come from either a biology or geology background, often leading to gaps in their understanding. This new program is designed to bridge that divide, offering a balanced curriculum. “This mention seeks precisely to integrate both worlds,” Moisan emphasized.
A Response to Growing Demand
The degree wasn’t developed in a vacuum. External employers, including professionals from the National Monuments Council, identified a clear need for more specialized paleontological expertise in Chile. “Today, well-trained people are required to respond to environmental and heritage demands,” Moisan stated. “This graduate will even have more complete training than many professionals who practice today.”
Dinosaurs and a Deep-Rooted Interest
David Rubilar, head of the Paleontology Area at the National Museum of Natural History, connected the launch of the degree to the immense public interest sparked by the “Dinosaurs of the South of the World” exhibition. “Dinosaurs are the champions of natural history. They speak directly to the deep history of the planet,” he said.
Rubilar noted that the 1993 release of *Jurassic Park* played a significant role in fueling this fascination, inspiring a generation to connect science, history, and the natural world. “Today we see young people who want to study paleontology because they connect science, history and territory,” he explained.
A Boost for Regional Science
Pablo Quilodrán, executive director of CIAHN Atacama, hailed the degree as a landmark achievement for Chilean science and a step towards greater regional equity. “For the first time, young people from the region will be able to study science without having to emigrate. And in a discipline where Chile has enormous unexplored potential,” he stated. He also underscored the economic benefits of paleontology, particularly its role in environmental evaluations and territorial planning. “Training specialists in paleontology in Chile is country development,” he assured.
Exhibition Success Highlights Public Engagement
The “Dinosaurs of the South of the World” exhibition, which concludes in March, drew record crowds, with over 902,000 visitors. In 2025 alone, the museum welcomed more than 850,000 attendees, largely driven by the exhibition’s popularity with educational institutions. On display were significant finds from the Atacama Region, including Arackar licanantay, a herbivorous titanosaur, and Pelagornis, a gigantic prehistoric marine bird.
Worth a look
