# Allison Fong > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Allison_Fong > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Allison_Fong.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allison_Fong > Source revision: 1341158721 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Allison Fong** is an American [oceanographer](/source/Oceanographer) and polar biologist who is best known for her research into [phytoplankton](/source/Phytoplankton) within the Arctic. She is currently a researcher for the [Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research](/source/Alfred_Wegener_Institute_for_Polar_and_Marine_Research). ## 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](/source/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](/source/Association_for_the_Sciences_of_Limnology_and_Oceanography).[2] From 2016 to 2018, she was a member of the [International Arctic Science Committee](/source/International_Arctic_Science_Committee)'s marine working group.[2] She is currently a researcher for the [Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research](/source/Alfred_Wegener_Institute_for_Polar_and_Marine_Research).[1] Fong was the leader of the ecology team for the 2019-2020 [MOSAiC Expedition](/source/MOSAiC_Expedition) to the central Arctic.[3][4] She studied [phytoplankton](/source/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](/source/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](/source/National_Geographic) documentary *Pole to Pole* with [Will Smith](/source/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](/source/University_of_the_Arctic#Frederik_Paulsen_Arctic_Academic_Action_Award).[11] ## References 1. Jacobo, Julia (April 22, 2021). ["Meet some of the women who are fighting against climate change"](https://abcnews.com/US/meet-women-fighting-climate-change/story?id=77030351). *[abcnews.com](/source/Abcnews.com)*. Retrieved March 1, 2026. 1. Musorrafitibo, Dominique (March 14, 2023). ["The Future of Polar Ecosystems: A Conversation with Allison Fong"](https://china-underground.com/2023/03/14/the-future-of-polar-ecosystems-a-conversation-with-allison-fong/). *china-underground.com*. Retrieved March 1, 2026. 1. Henriques, Martha (October 23, 2019). ["The problem of thinning Arctic sea ice"](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191018-the-problem-of-thinning-arctic-sea-ice). *[BBC](/source/BBC)*. Retrieved March 1, 2026. 1. Fountain, Henry (September 19, 2019). ["Scientists to Drift With Arctic Ice to Study Climate Change"](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/climate/mosaic-expedition-arctic.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Retrieved March 1, 2026. 1. Hall, Shannon (April 11, 2020). ["Life in the Dark Arctic"](https://www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/sciencenews20200411-dl.pdf). *[Science News](/source/Science_News)*. pp. 14–19. Retrieved March 1, 2026. 1. Hall, Shannon (April 24, 2020). ["Coronavirus shutdown forces research ship to break out of Arctic ice"](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01253-4). *[Nature](/source/Nature_(journal))*. Retrieved March 1, 2026. 1. ["The Unsung Heroes Beneath the Ice: Polar Ecologist Allison Fong on Will Smith, Arctic Microbes, and a Discovery Years in the Making"](https://scientificinquirer.com/2026/02/06/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. 1. Wise, Abigail (December 11, 2025). ["EXCLUSIVE: Will Smith Goes to the Ends of the Earth in New Docuseries 'Pole to Pole'"](https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/books-media/will-smith-docuseries-pole-to-pole/). *[Outside](/source/Outside_(magazine))*. Retrieved March 1, 2026. 1. Blake, Nzinga & Flores, Ruben (January 20, 2026). ["From Curiosity to Culture: Will Smith and Nat Geo on the inspiration behind 'Pole to Pole'"](https://abc7.com/post/pole-to-pole-will-smith-actor-shares-inspiration-behind-new-national-geographic-docuseries/18416992/). *[abc7.com](/source/Abc7.com)*. Retrieved March 1, 2026. 1. Zaleski, Andrew (January 13, 2026). ["Searching for life across the planet's frigid frontiers"](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/allison-fong-global-warming-north-south-pole). *[National Geographic](/source/National_Geographic)*. Retrieved March 1, 2026. 1. ["Introducing shortlisted nominees for the 2024 FP Award: Allison A. Fong and Amy Lauren"](https://www.uarctic.org/news/2024/9/introducing-shortlisted-nominees-for-the-2024-fp-award-allison-a-fong-and-amy-lauren/). *[University of the Arctic](/source/University_of_the_Arctic)*. September 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2026. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Allison Fong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allison_Fong) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allison_Fong?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.