Although he grew up in Calgary, Silberg always planned to live and work on the coast. He first fell in love with Vancouver Island on a family vacation, and his Grade 12 visit to UVic sealed the deal. “It was 20 degrees with blue skies and blooming cherry blossoms—in February,” he says. “UVic was an easy decision!”

Silberg’s biology focus was an easy choice, too. “I’ve always been fascinated by nature, especially marine ecosystems,” he says. His second major in environmental studies supplied a sociopolitical context that rounded out his biology degree.

Silberg completed four co-op work terms to get his feet wet—literally—in government and nonprofit sector jobs. He spent four months restoring Garry oak ecosystems for Parks Canada. Then, as a naturalist in Sidney’s Marine Ecology Centre, he cared for 20 aquariums, researched amphipods and taught marine education classes. Silberg spent his last two work terms at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, where he assessed fish habitat in northern BC watersheds and helped monitor shellfish catches. “There’s no substitute for experience, and co-op definitely gave me the skills to succeed post-graduation,” he says.

Silberg’s passion for his field hasn’t gone unnoticed. He’s earned five scholarships, and was chosen to support the programming at Bamfield Marine Science Centre as the Centre’s 2009 UVic undergraduate representative. His ideal career would mix education with some aspect of marine research. “There really are an infinite number of unanswered questions about the marine environment, and unlimited research possibilities,” he says.

After graduation from UVic this month, Silberg plans to apply to graduate schools on the Canadian and American west coast. First, though, he’s heading to Shark Bay, Australia, to research wild bottlenose dolphin behaviour. “I can’t think of a better way to spend a couple of months before going back to school!” he says.