Shah Selbe

Shah Selbe is an innovative conservation technologist and engineer who has carved out a unique career at the intersection of technology and ecological research.

Professional Background: A former rocket scientist, Selbe is the founder of two nonprofits: Conservify and FieldKit. He has been recognized as a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2013 and Fellow in 2016, which provided crucial seed funding for his conservation technology initiatives.2

Core Mission: Selbe's work focuses on developing accessible technologies for environmental research and conservation. As he describes it, he builds technology "largely leveraging smartphones and other new technology... repurposed for good to provide realistic data for people who aren't able to access expensive tools".2

FieldKit Project: At FieldKit, Selbe serves as the Managing Director, leading an open-source environmental sensor platform. His vision is to create hardware that researchers, students, and explorers can use and adapt. He emphasizes an open-source approach, wanting people to "mix and match and create some version of their own and build on it".1

Global Impact: His conservation work has been extensive, involving projects in nearly 40 countries. Some notable projects include:

• Monitoring glaciers in Banff National Park, Canada
• Working with Amazon basin communities on water quality
• Deploying sensors in the Dja Faunal Reserve in Cameroon
• Monitoring water quality in Mexican cenotes2

Philosophical Approach: Selbe encourages professionals to find opportunities in interdisciplinary spaces, advising people to "think about the things you're good at, but also the things you're passionate about".2