Tomasz Samojlik
Tomasz Samojlik is a scientist, a biologist and an environmental historian. In his research he focuses mainly on the history of fires and their role in shaping the Białowieża Primeval Forest's environment, the role of livestock grazing in modifying woodlands of the Białowieża Forest in the last five centuries, and the environmental history of the Białowieża Forest in the 19th and 20th centuries. He is also a successful author of comic books and books addressed to a wide audience but mostly intended for youth. Samojlik has been using his scientific work to popularize knowledge about the natural  environment and its inhabitants, and history of the Białowieża Forest. Life. Samojlik studied in Poland, first at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Inter-faculty European Study where he received Master of Science in 2002. He continued his education at the Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, where he received his PhD in Sciences in 2007. His PhD thesis was titled “Antropogenne przemiany środowiska Puszczy Białowieskiej do końca XVIII wieku” [“Anthropogenic Landscape Change in the Białowieża Primeval Forest till the End of XVIII century”]. Its foundation constituted the results of the first stage of his study  on human interactions from 500 BC to 1800 AD with the Białowieża Primeval Forest and determining their impact on the ecosystem. In 2020 Samojlik earned a postdoctoral degree (habilitation) in biological sciences in the Białystok University in Białystok, Poland. His thesis was titled “Wpływ XIX-wiecznej gospodarki leśnej na stan lasów i populacji dzikich zwierząt Puszczy Białowieskiej” [“The influence of XIX century’s forest management on the forest shape and wild animals population of the Białowieża Forest”]. Since 2002, Samojlik has been working at The Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences (MRI PAS) in the Białowieża Forest, Poland. The  Białowieża Forest (literally “White Tower Forest”) is a Polish national park. It is one of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Sites located on the border between Poland and Belarus. The Mammal Research Institute, where Samojlik holds an Associate Professor (Adjunct in Polish) position in the Population Ecology Unit, is an independent scientific research unit of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS) which is situated near this unique research area. As a scientist, Samojlik coordinates European Union projects and makes contributions to the novel field of research, environmental history, especially human impact on the Białowieża Forest. His research also focuses  on the history of fires and the role of livestock which among others impact the environment of the Białowieża Forest. The history and the contemporary pattern of habitat use and diet of the European bison that live in the Białowieża Forest is one of his main scientific areas of interest. Samojlik works as a scientist, but he also draws comics and writes children’s books. He is a fruitful author of comic books and books addressed to a wide audience but mostly intended for youth. He decided to be a comic book artist when he was six years old. He  was drawing amateur comics/illustrated stories during his childhood. However, even though at the age of thirteen he had his paid cartoon debut in a local newspaper, “Kurier Podlaski” ["Podlasie press"], he did not believe in his talent. In high school, he realized that the cartoonist profession did not exist at that time, and that he needs to pick a real career. He was not admitted to studying law, so he studied history and European Studies in Lublin instead and then, he started working in MRI PAS. Besides science and literature, Samojlik is also known because of the adaptations of  his work. Samojlik is also a creator and illustrator of games. Samojlik sporadically creates posters, post cards, illustrations to newspaper and magazines articles, even for scientific works of his collaborators. Samojlik lives close to the Białowieża Forest with his wife and two children. He often refers to his children as his inspiration and the first critics of his work. Works. Samojlik is an author of more than 50 articles in scientific journals, 7 books, 28 book chapters, and 59 popular articles. He published in English, French and Belarussian, numerous scientific articles, book chapters and books, also in collaboration with his  peers. His scientific publications were cited about 600 times (as 2021) according to researchgate. Samojlik is also an author of various graphic novels including the "Shrew Saga" ("Saga o Ryjówce"): "The Shrew of Destiny" ("Ryjówka przeznaczenia"), "The Mink of Extinction" ("Norka zagłady"), and "The Return of the Cilia" ("Powrót rzęsorka") published in 2012, 2013, and 2015 respectively by Kultura Gniewu, as well as trilogy on woodpeckers from the Białowieża Forest called "Dead Forest" (Umarły las), "Undead Forest" ("Nieumarły las"), and "The Call of the Carrion" ("Zew padliny") co-created with Adam Wajrak and published by Agora in 2016, 2017, and  2018 respectively. He also authored numerous children’s books about nature including the "Pompik the European Bison" ("Żubr Pompik") series published by Media Rodzina since 2016 that consists of more than 20 titles, "Ambaras" about the wolf family (illustrated by Elżbieta Wasiuczyńska) published by Agora in 2018, "Tarmosia" about badgers (illustrated by Ania Grzyb) published by Agora in 2021, and "Bercia and Orson" about adventures of little bears (illustrated by Elżbieta Wasiuczyńska) published by Agora in 2021. Samojlik is also an illustrator of books, games and posters. His works include illustrations to books from the "Dad" series: "Dad, Why is  it?" ("Tato, a dlaczego?"), "Dad, Explain this…" ("Tato, a po co?"), "Dad, It’s Nature time!" ("Z tatą w przyrodę"), "In search of Dinosaurs with Dad" (Z "tatą na dinozaury") authored by Wojciech Mikołuszko published by Multico in 2010, 2015 and 2017, and "Are Fledges Flightless Birds and Other Secrets of Birds" ("Czy podloty to nieloty? I inne tajemnice ptaków") authored by Andrzej Kruszewicz, published by Multico in 2018. Awards. Samojlik has received numerous awards for his scientific work and popularization of science in books and comic books. Public Appearances. Scientific Conferences. Samojlik as a scientist is very active internationally . He frequently takes part in international scientific conferences held face-to-face and online, where he does not only present the results of his work but also works as member of scientific committees. He gives talks on the history of science, forest archaeology, environmental history, European forests, and Białowieża Forest. Book Fairs, Literature Festival Appearances, Presentations and Workshops. Samojlik has been present at various book fairs, comic book fairs and intergenerational literature festivals organized virtually and in different Polish cities throughout the years. Additionally, Samojlik enjoys meeting with children. He is frequently invited to talk about his comic books, their  characters, and the environment they live in. He has been visiting schools, daycares, and libraries where readers of his books can enjoy listening to his presentations. Furthermore, he also hosts the workshops where he shares his drawing passion, provides drawing tips, and gives his audience an opportunity to try their hand at cartooning. Interviews. There have been a lot of interviews with Samojlik, both online and face-to-face, for example: