Nathalia Salazar is an education specialist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s Center for Conservation and Sustainability, where she develops educational programs and strategies to promote the understanding of biodiversity conservation.

Salazar works with the CCS team to support educational programming, informal learning, and community development, integrating applied in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies. She is also exploring ways to communicate the contributions that education can make to increasing knowledge and promoting inclusion of conservation science.

Salazar's projects include:

• In-situ and ex-situ conservation of the Atlantic Forest in Paraguay

Salazar has a bachelor’s degree in biology education from the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas. She earned a master’s degree in environmental management from the Universidad de los Andes in 2014. She has experience in curriculum development, creating and coordinating programming for diverse audiences, and the tourism industry. She was an intern for OEA’s Risk Management and Adaptation to Climate Change department and volunteers with the International Zoo Educators Association, supporting science communication on social media.

Salazar believes education is one of the most critical factors in achieving conservation objectives. This belief led her to pursue a career fostering educational practices where no one is left behind and advocating for a more just, equitable and sustainable world.