Allison Fong

Last updated
Allison Fong
Born
Rhode Island
Alma mater University of Hawaii Manoa
Occupation Oceanographer
Employer Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research

Allison Fong is an American oceanographer and polar biologist who is best known for her research into phytoplankton within the Arctic. She is currently a researcher for the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research.

Contents

Early life and education

Fong grew up along the coast in Rhode Island. [1] She earned her graduate degree from the University of Hawaii Manoa. [2]

Career

From 2011 to 2014, Fong served on board of directors for Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography. [2] From 2016 to 2018, she was a member of the International Arctic Science Committee's marine working group. [2] She is currently a researcher for the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research. [1]

Fong was the leader of the ecology team for the 2019-2020 MOSAiC Expedition to the central Arctic. [3] [4] She studied phytoplankton and other algae to determine how they are able to survive in the absence of light under the polar ice. [5] The expedition and Fong's research was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic when researchers were unable to return after the outbreak. [6] In total, Fong spent nine months at sea during the expedition. [7]

In 2026, Fong appeared in the National Geographic documentary Pole to Pole with Will Smith. [8] Smith dived below polar ice with Fong to assist in collecting microbial samples. [9] Fong cites the importance of studying sea ice algae as "fundamental to the habitability of Earth". [10]

Awards and honors

Fong was a finalist for the 2024 Frederik Paulsen Arctic Academic Action Award. [11]

References

  1. 1 2 Jacobo, Julia (April 22, 2021). "Meet some of the women who are fighting against climate change". abcnews.com . Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Musorrafitibo, Dominique (March 14, 2023). "The Future of Polar Ecosystems: A Conversation with Allison Fong". china-underground.com. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  3. ↑ Henriques, Martha (October 23, 2019). "The problem of thinning Arctic sea ice". BBC . Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  4. ↑ Fountain, Henry (September 19, 2019). "Scientists to Drift With Arctic Ice to Study Climate Change". The New York Times . Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  5. ↑ Hall, Shannon (April 11, 2020). "Life in the Dark Arctic" (PDF). Science News . pp. 14–19. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  6. ↑ Hall, Shannon (April 24, 2020). "Coronavirus shutdown forces research ship to break out of Arctic ice". Nature . Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  7. ↑ "The Unsung Heroes Beneath the Ice: Polar Ecologist Allison Fong on Will Smith, Arctic Microbes, and a Discovery Years in the Making". ScientificInquirer.com. February 6, 2026. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  8. ↑ Wise, Abigail (December 11, 2025). "EXCLUSIVE: Will Smith Goes to the Ends of the Earth in New Docuseries 'Pole to Pole'". Outside . Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  9. ↑ Blake, Nzinga; Flores, Ruben (January 20, 2026). "From Curiosity to Culture: Will Smith and Nat Geo on the inspiration behind 'Pole to Pole'". abc7.com . Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  10. ↑ Zaleski, Andrew (January 13, 2026). "Searching for life across the planet's frigid frontiers". National Geographic . Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Introducing shortlisted nominees for the 2024 FP Award: Allison A. Fong and Amy Lauren". University of the Arctic . September 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
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