Sam Engstrom

I completed a BSc at the University of Guelph in biological sciences and zoology, but I nearly applied for art programs instead. I’m a ravenous learner with many interests, so choosing one program was difficult!

After graduating, I did a semester in OCAD’s Digital Futures program, a cross-disciplinary program highlighting design, computer science, and business, before returning to Guelph. As much as I enjoyed the Digital Future’s area of study, OCAD would not give me any transfer credits or advanced standing, so my energy was better spent taking upper year classes at Guelph and gearing up for post grad applications.

My main hobby-turned-signed-hustle is illustration, which I’ve been able to fold in to travel. I complete freelance work for clients and work on original pieces to take around North America to comic conventions. I love that I’ve been able to improve my creative abilities and simultaneously run my own business, and you can find my store site at crow.party! I enjoy indoor rock climbing, and skiing and biking depending on the season. I enjoy playing the

The field of science that interests me the is most of them! I’m also passionate about relating scientific information to the public given the intentional scientific illiteracy that seems so worryingly prevalent especially in the current political climate. As much as I’m fascinated by palaeontology, marine biology, climate change, the many subfields of computer science, and the creative opportunities within scientific fields, any research conducted is irrelevant if that information isn’t digested by the general public in a way that can fuel change for the better.

A clear career goal has eluded me, except for when I was 5 and set on becoming a palaeontologist. I’ve struggled with whether I should remain in camp science or jump ship to the art world and pursue animation, but ideally would love to combine them. I’m preparing to apply to the Biomedical Communications program at the University of Toronto and investigating other interdisciplinary offerings. I’m also planning on taking a scuba course after falling in love with diving after my intro dives on the Great Barrier Reef while I was on exchange. To add one more to the nebulous goal brainstorm, I’m waiting to hear back on my application to teach English in Japan.

Interesting facts are tough, so these may seem mundane! I was born 2 months early and managed to not die, and at one point almost stepped on a coastal taipan and also didn’t die.