A picture of Xue Yifan, a student from Peking University, standing in front of the university library alone has been making noises online.

It was not because she was alone in the photo but the context behind the solo image. Xue was the only graduate of the Paleontology program of the University’s Yuanpei College.

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Paleontology is seen as one of the university degrees deemed as unpopular in China. And according to Beijing Review, the deputy chief of the Yuanpei College, Lu Xiaodong confirmed that only one student enrolled in every level at the university since the program began in 2008.

But the image of Paleontology today as represented by Xue is not the same as it was 50 years ago when the program was still popular in China.

According to Liu Jianbo, a professor from the College of Earth Sciences at the Peking University, thousands of students used to swarm the program decades ago.

Geologists as well as paleontologists have played a major role in the survey of the country’s natural resources.

The current job market is seen as one of the primary factors why there has been a continuous decline in Paleontology as students now eye for programs that promise “more lucrative careers.”

"Geology in general and paleontology in particular can be perceived as having a difficult job market," wrote a group of Chinese academics in Paleontologia Electronica.

The scientists continued with a warning, what the decline of students in the program may impact on the development of Chinese paleontology.

"The most serious threat to the sustainable development of Chinese paleontology is the decline of undergraduate education programs at Chinese universities," the scientists were cited as saying in a statement by Beijing Review.

Xue is one among the very few who refused to be dissuaded by the non-lucrative promise of Paleontology as a career.

Her interest in the discipline began in high school after watching documentaries of ancient animals on British Broadcasting Corporation.  Her zest stayed on until she enrolled in the program of the Peking University in 2009.

"Actually paleontology was one of the reasons why I chose Peking University," said Xue.

She recalled the challenges of being part of the program not many students would enroll to.

"As I am the only student that needs to take lessons from two schools, I need to balance the subjects I pick," Xue began, "Sometimes when either of the schools change their schedule at short notice, which is not a big deal for students from those major, I have to reschedule my day, which is somewhat frustrating."

She admitted giving up on the program a couple of years later.

"I felt lonely and the pressure of my studies was also a heavy burden at that time," Xue noted. "I couldn't share my woes with anybody as I was the only one studying paleontology."

But she listened to her heart and passion for Paleontology.

"They said it is not easy to pursue something you really love and since I had already started, I might as well finish," she said.

Xue plans to continue with her journey as she intends to study her master’s degree at the Carnegie Mellon University in the United States.

TagsPaleontology, unpopular college degrees, Xue Yifan