Imran Rahman
Dr Imran Rahman - Ask a Palaeontologist
This month we chat to Dr Imran Rahman
- Name: Dr Imran Rahman
- Job: Principal Researcher
- Location: Natural History Museum, London, UK
What inspired you to become a scientist?
I was interested in the natural world from an early age, and avidly consumed everything related to this I could get my hands on, from books to documentaries to toys. I particularly enjoyed learning about animals – both alive and extinct. My teachers at primary school quickly turned me on to science and biology in particular, and I’ve never looked back.
What inspired you to become a palaeontologist?
Like many children, I was obsessed with dinosaurs and other extinct animals. But unlike all of my friends, I didn’t grow out of this! Although somewhat bemused by my interests, my parents were always very supportive, regularly taking me to the Natural History Museum in London. Here I could see fossils of the species I had read about in books, and I was even able to meet some of the palaeontologists working there. This was very inspirational for me growing up.
Describe your work/job.
My job involves carrying out scientific research, something which is very variable on a day-to-day basis. I spend a lot of time studying fossils, which can entail photographing them, looking at them under a microscope or using 3D computer models to better understand what they were like when they were alive. This involves travelling to museums, universities and facilities all over the world. I present my findings to other scientists at conferences and meetings nationally and internationally. I spend a lot of time writing, in particular preparing papers based on my recent research, as well as working on applications for funding to carry out research in the future. And I also enjoy teaching students and talking to the public about my work. The one constant through it all is replying to emails!
What’s the best part of your job?
Although not something I’ve been able to do much of over the past year and a half, the opportunity to travel is one of the best parts of my job. I have always enjoyed visiting different countries and meeting new people, and I still pinch myself that I get to do this for a living.
What other jobs have you done?
I previously worked as an assistant at a pharmacy and as a receptionist at a GP surgery. A far cry from palaeontology, but it paid the bills.
What were your favourite subjects at school?
Biology, geology and geography, which is handy as those are the subjects that are most relevant for my job today! I also enjoyed English, which has proved useful because I spend a lot of time writing in my job.
Where did you study geoscience/palaeontology?
For my undergraduate degree, I studied Palaeobiology at University College London. I then went on to carry out a PhD in Palaeontology at Imperial College London.
What hobbies do you have outside of palaeontology?
I like getting outside where possible, for example going for a run or taking our 12-year-old Golden Retriever out for a walk. I also enjoy playing board games and computer games with friends.
What is your favourite fossil?
Such a difficult choice! I would probably have to say a small tennis racket-shaped animal called Protocinctus. It comes from the Cambrian period, over 500 million years ago, and is very important for understanding the early evolution of echinoderms – the group that includes starfish and sea urchins. It is also the first fossil I ever named! You can see a 3D model of it here: http://www.virtualfossils.com/virtual-fossils/protocinctus/
What’s your favourite place that you have travelled to study palaeontology?
I have been lucky enough to travel to China (Nanjing and Kunming) on several occasions for work, and this has been one of my favourite countries to visit. Great people, great food and great fossils, what’s not to like?
Why is it important for us to study palaeontology?
Palaeontology can inform on how past lifeforms responded to changes in their environment, which is vital for predicting how species will respond to human-driven climate change in the near future. It is also important for working out how different organisms are related to each other and where all the species alive today came from.
What advice would you give to somebody interested in becoming a palaeontologist?
Take as many opportunities as you can to get involved in palaeontology and learn more about it. This can be as simple as looking for fossils on the beach and visiting or volunteering (if you can) at your local natural history museum. There are also many free resources online that are worth looking at if you can’t get hands-on experience, like the podcast Palaeocast (https://www.palaeocast.com/) or the Paleontological Research Institution’s Digital Atlas of Ancient Life (https://www.digitalatlasofancientlife.org/vc/). Most importantly, you need to work hard at school to get the best qualifications you can, focusing in particular on science, geography and maths – you can specialize in palaeontology later on, at university. It is a difficult career to get into, but if you are passionate about palaeontology then you should go for it!
Imran online
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Follow Imran on Twitter - @VirtualPalaeo