John T. Polhemus

Doctor
John T. Polhemus
John Thomas Polhemus, displaying mounted insects from his collection.
Born(1929-09-11)11 September 1929
Died21 May 2013(2013-05-21) (aged 83)
Resting placeOakland Cemetery, Peterson Iowa
EducationBachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering - Iowa State University 1956; Ph.D., Biology - University of Colorado 1977
Occupation(s)Entomologist, engineer
SpouseIrma Ruth Polhemus (Kirchner)
ChildrenDan A. Polhemus, John M. Polhemus

John Thomas Polhemus (September 11, 1929 – May 21, 2013) was a pioneering American entomologist, bio-engineer, and expert in remote sensing. Known for his extensive research on aquatic Heteroptera (water bugs) and his contributions to NASA’s space programs, Polhemus was a prolific scientist and inventor. His work spanned over six decades and left a lasting impact on both the fields of entomology and bio-engineering. Polhemus wrote 288 peer-reviewed publications and described 474 species new to science.