Dr. Kristin van Konynenburg was the physician at a U.S. research station on the Antarctic Peninsula from October 2001 through March 2002. Palmer Station is located just outside the Antarctic Circle on Anvers Island. Pa
lmer is an ideal location for marine biology and ecological research because the summer waters of the Peninsula are rich in phytoplankton and krill (a small shrimp like animal), which form the base of the feeding chain in the cold waters of the Southern Ocean. Within two miles of station there are fourteen islands that provide nesting sites for a wide variety of Antarctic birds, from Adelie penguins to giant petrels. Icebergs and sea ice provide breeding sites for a wide variety of seals. It was not unusual for Dr. van Konynenburg to walk the 100 yards from the clinic to the weather station and find a fur seal, a group of molting elephant seals, or a couple of Gentoo penguins resting on the rocks at the edge of station.
The station had a support staff of 20-25 during the summer season, with a maximum of 21 scientists conducting research. Because the staff is small, everyone at this remote station must be multitalented. In addition to providing health care to the station personnel and to vessels in the immediate area, Dr. van Konynenburg performed daily weather observations, sampled air for three laboratories for the National Oceanic Aeronautic Administration (NOAA) and Scripps that are studying carbon, halocarbon, water and oxygen changes in the atmosphere. She was also safety officer responsible for building, fire, water and food inspections.
