Nick Pyenson

Dr. Nick Pyenson is the Lead Curator and Chair of Paleobiology at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, where they also serve as Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals. They have mentored over 25 scientists throughout their career and contributed to major discoveries recognized in media and international exhibits. Dr. Pyenson has received several prestigious awards, including a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, and is a National Geographic Explorer. They authored the acclaimed book "Spying on Whales" and co-created the children's book "The Whale Who Swam Through Time." Dr. Pyenson has held a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of British Columbia and is pursuing a PhD in Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley.