Surrounded by the magnificence of Antarctica, science educator Jean Pennycook sometimes sits for hours on the ice surrounded by Adélie penguins that come right to up to her.

Before Jean left triple-digit Fresno for the ice-ridden shores of Antarctica, she served the Central Valley as a high school science teacher for over 25 years. Her undergraduate degree in wildlife and fisheries biology from University of California, Davis gave her a background in science, while her master’s in science education from Fresno State gave her the ability to share that science with the world.

Jean has always been passionate about wildlife and sustainability, and her position in Antarctica has empowered her to become a more hands-on advocate. She hopes her work will motivate the public to action and raise awareness about the impact of each person’s global footprint.

“There are many, many misconceptions about our polar environments so a lot of that is trying to get people educated," she said. "Things are changing, and we’d like people to not only revere penguins and the other animals that live there, but choose to protect them.”

Although amenities are scarce, Jean is well equipped with internet access that she uses to update her website, http://penguinscience.com.

In her almost 20 years of experience, Jean says she has seen increasing evidence of a changing environment, causing concern for the future of the Adelies.

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