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Pyenson, Nicholas

Pyenson, Nicholas

Research Geologist and Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals

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Pyenson, Nicholas

Research Geologist and Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals

Evolution and ecology of marine mammals and other marine tetrapods

Geographic Focus

Background And Education

Education And Training

Professional Biography

  • Dr. Nicholas D. Pyenson is a research geologist and curator of fossil marine mammals at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of British Columbia. As a paleontologist, his scientific research focuses on the repeated and convergent evolution of marine life, including iconic lineages such as sea turtles, sea cows, and especially whales. His scientific expeditions have taken him to every continent, his discoveries have been exhibited in major museums across the Americas. He is the author of over 80 scientific publications, including cover articles in the journals Science and Nature. His writing and media coverage of his work frequently appear in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New Yorker, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, Scientific American, National Geographic, The Economist, and also on NPR, CBC, and the BBC. Along with the highest research awards from the Smithsonian, he has also received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from the Obama White House. His popular book describing his work, Spying on Whales, was featured on national television and radio, included in many best science book compilations, shortlisted for several awards. The Whale Who Swam Through Time is his most recent book, co-authored with science illustrator Alex Boersma. Pyenson is also a member of the Young Scientists community at the World Economic Forum, a Kavli Fellow at the US National Academy of Sciences, and a Fulbright Specialist at the US Department of State.

Awards And Honors

Public Biography

  • DR. NICK PYENSON is the curator of fossil marine mammals at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. His work has taken him to every continent, and his scientific discoveries appear frequently in the New York Times, the Washington Post, National Geographic, The Economist, Popular Mechanics, as well as on NPR, CBC, and the BBC. Along with the highest research awards from the Smithsonian, he has also received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from the Obama White House. He is also a National Geographic Explorer, a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Scientists community. He is the author of the acclaimed non-fiction book Spying on Whales, and co-author with science illustrator Alex Boersma of the children’s book The Whale Who Swam Through Time.

International Audience Summary Of Expertise

  • Dr. Nick Pyenson is a paleontologist who studies how marine animals, such as whales, sea cows, and sea turtles have evolved over millions of years. He uses information from the fossil record and the anatomy of these animals to understand how the evolved and their ecology in the world today. Many marine animals are important to human cultures, and some are highly threatened by human activities. Understanding the evolution and ecology of these species will contribute to better knowing how they will respond to global climate change.

    Dr. Pyenson’s scientific expeditions have taken him to every continent. For him, international collaborations are essential for accomplishing the basic research, but also for: building scientific research capacity; mentoring the next generation of scientists; and communicating what we know about the deep history of life on Earth.

    The results of his team’s discoveries have been published extensively, including cover articles in the prestigious journals Science and Nature. Along with his collaborators, he has named over nearly a dozen new species of fossil vertebrates, discovered the richest fossil whale graveyard on the planet in the Atacama of Chile, and described an entirely new sensory organ in living whales. 

    His research has received the highest awards from the Smithsonian, and he has also received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from President Obama’s White House. Dr. Pyenson’s popular book describing his research, Spying on Whales, was featured on US television and radio, and included in many best science book compilations. It will soon be available in Russian and Chinese language editions.

    He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of British Columbia, he received his doctoral degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and he has a bachelor’s degree from Emory University. Pyenson is also a member of the Young Scientists community at the World Economic Forum.

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Research And Grants

Investigator On

Publications

Selected Publications

Activities

Responsible Collections Areas

  • Fossil marine mammals and Paleogene mammals

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