Tijana Selak

A bit about me:

From a very young age I’ve had a passion for nature and wildlife, and have considered myself an environmental advocate. After completing my BSc in Zoology from the University of Calgary, including an independent research project on the impact of urbanization on little brown bats, I spent my early career working as a wildlife rehabber, zoo educator, and environmental scientist.

As a registered Professional Biologist in Alberta, wildlife conservation is my biggest passion, but through my MSc in Environmental Studies from Royal Roads University, I’ve really begun to consider the fact that no conservation action can be truly sustainable without the effective integration of environmental, social, and economic imperatives. Without a stable, equitable, and habitable planet, wildlife don’t have a chance, and this has driven my interest in areas such as habitat protection, community conservation, and science communication.

Though I live alongside the Rocky Mountains, I consider the ocean my home away from home, and it is this love for the water and determination to protect crucial natural spaces that eventually led me to my current role with Ocean Wise. I mentor youth through a variety of stewardship initiatives, ranging from plastics research, wildlife filmmaking, climate data collection, and whale monitoring, to provide young environmentalists with the science literacy, professional skills, and inspiration to join the effort to conserve  our oceans.

A fun fact about me:

My favourite activity is surfing, and I don’t let the fact that I’m landlocked stop me! I’m a river surfer, and when I can’t be in the water, surfskating and snowboarding are the next best thing.