Polly Penhale

Polly A. Penhale is an American biologist and Environmental Officer at the National Science Foundation. She is a leading figure in Antarctic research, and has been recognized for contributions to research, policy, and environmental conservation. Penhale Peak in Antarctica is named for her. Penhale was born in St. Louis. She earned a BA from Earlham College in 1970, followed by an MS and PhD at North Carolina State University, where she specialized in marine biology. Penhale’s career has spanned research, education, conservation, and advocacy. She has worked in the US and internationally to preserve polar ecosystems, and has played a key role in facilitating scientific research in the polar regions through the US National Science Foundation (NSF). As Environmental Officer for the NSF, Penhale manages environmental oversight and stewardship for US activities in Antarctica, including environmental assessment. She also is responsible for reviewing research proposals and making funding decisions related to Antarctic research. She played a key role in establishment of the conservation-focused Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) program at Palmer Station, Antarctica. Penhale’s early career was focused on marine biology. She worked in a number of ocean and coastal areas, including Alaska, Florida, the Caribbean, and Chesapeake Bay, holding post-docs at Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine Science (1976-1977) and the Kellogg Biological Station (1977-1979). She joined the faculty of the College of William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science in 1979, and was a visiting scientist and Assistant Program Director at the NSF from 1982-1985; she later began working for the National Science Foundation in 1986, as program manager for Polar Biology and Medicine. Penhale also served as Secretary of the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (now the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography), 1985-1997, and the President of the Antarctican Society, 1992-1994.