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Department
College of paleontology
I. History and Development
Founded in December 2010, the College of paleontology, is the first professional training institution of paleontology in China. The College has one undergraduatepaleontology program, which is a special major of the Ministry of Education. Now it is the third batch of “First-class Exemplary speciality for Undergraduate Education” in Liaoning Province, the construction site of first-class speciality in Liaoning Province, and the “pillar speciality” and “landmark speciality” of Shenyang Normal University (SNU). The College is attached to scientific and technological platforms such as Liaoning Museum of Paleontology, which is the largest paleontological museum in China, co-built by Liaoning Provincial Department of Natural Resources and SNU, “Key Laboratory of Paleontological Evolution in North-east Asia of Ministry of Natural Resources”, “Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Paleontological Evolution and Paleo-environmental Change” and “Collaborative Innovation Centre of Liaoning Provincial Institutions of Higher Education”, to carry out comprehensive paleontology talent training, scientific research and scientific popularization.
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II. Faculty and Students
As of December 2022, the College has an enrolled117 undergraduates in thebachelors program and 17 graduates in themasters program. The students are from 14 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across the country.
At present, there are 21 full-time teachers, all of whom have doctorates. Among them, 9 have senior professional titles, 3 have overseas study experience. In addition, there are 20 part-time professors (including 6 academicians at home and abroad), 1 winner of Li Siguang Geology Award, 1 distinguished professor of Liaoning Province, 1 outstanding teacher of Liaoning Province, 1 outstanding scientific and technological staff of Liaoning Province, and 1 outstanding young scientific and technological talent of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
III. Degree Programs
The undergraduate program of paleontology has three orientations: paleontology, Fossil Conservation and Museology, Geology and Chemical Energy, which is required to be completed within 4 years, with a minimum of 159 credits. The main modules of the paleontology program include Introduction to Earth Science, Introduction to paleontology, Mineralogy, Fundamentals of Natural History Museology, Paleobotany, etc.
The postgraduate program requires a study duration of 3 years with a minimum of 42 credits. The main modules of its Paleontology program include Paleontological Geography, Paleontological Principles, Vertebrate paleontology, Special Topics in Paleobotany, Invertebrate Paleontology.
IV. Academic Research
As of now, the College has published more than 100 papers in Science Citation Index (SCI) and other authoritative academic journals; 7 papers in Nature, Science and other top academic journals. In addition, the College has published 17 monographs, the results of which have been selected as “Top Ten Scientific and Technological Advances in Chinese Universities in 2009”, “Top Ten Scientific and Technological Advances in China/the World in 2009” and “Top Ten Research Advances in paleontology in China in 2018” by academicians of both the Chinese Academies of Sciences and Engineering, and won first, second and third prizes from Liaoning Provincial Science and Technology Award (Natural Science). Moreover, the College has been approved as the “Key Laboratory of Paleontological Evolution in North-east Asia of the Ministry of Natural Resources”, the “Key Laboratory of Paleontological Evolution and Paleo-environmental Change in Liaoning Province” and the “Collaborative Innovation Centre of Institutions of Higher Education in Liaoning Province”. Among them, the “Key Laboratory of Paleontology Evolution in North-east Asia” is the only key laboratory of the Ministry of Natural Resources in Liaoning Province and the only key laboratory of paleontology in China’s natural resources system at present. It was awarded as the outstanding Key Laboratory by the Ministry of Natural Resources in 2018.
V. International Exchange and Cooperation
The College has carried out cooperative research, field research, and exchange visits with institutions, experts or scholars from nearly 20 countries, including the United States, Russia, the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam, Thailand, Belgium, Romania, India, Brazil etc. It has also held six major international conferences, including the International Symposium on Paleontology and Geology in Liaoning Province and the 12th International Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems, and four overseas special exhibitions on Chinese fossils.
VI. Distinguished Alumni
l Sheowei, a graduate of the year of 2015 with BS, received a Ph. D from the University of Bonn, Germany, and is currently engaged in post-doctoral research in Senckenberg Museum, Germany, playing an important role in the field of paleontology research.
l Yin Yalei, who graduated in 2015 with a bachelors, received his Ph. D from Peking University. He has become a teacher at our Collegeand played an important role in the field of paleontology research and education.
l Qiu Rui, who graduated with a masters in 2016, received a Ph. D from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, is now working in the Beijing Museum of Natural Science and has played an important role in the field of paleontology science.
l Wang Shiying, who graduated with a masters in 2018, received a Ph. D from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, has become a teacher of our Collegeand played an important role in paleontology research and education.
VII. College of Paleontology at a Glance
l In 2010, the College of paleontology was established
l In 2011, the Liaoning Museum of paleontology was officially opened
l 304 students enrolled since our founding
l 1 winner of Li Siguang Geology Award
l 1 distinguished professor of Liaoning Province
l 1 outstanding teacher of Liaoning Province
Contact
Website: https://cop.synu.edu.cn
Email: service@pmol.org.cn
Address: 253 Huanghe North Street, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province
Postcode: 110034
Telephone: 0086-24-86591114