Tomasz Samojlik

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 Belarusian, 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.

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”].

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.