Dr. Stephen Petersen is the Director of Conservation and Research at Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he studies polar bears and other Arctic wildlife. A conservation biologist specializing in molecular ecology, he earned his Ph.D. at Trent University studying population genetics in polar bears, ringed seals and Peary caribou. He later worked with Fisheries and Oceans Canada studying the genetics of Arctic marine mammals, including ringed seals, narwhals, belugas, bowhead whales and killer whales. Today, he also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba.

His research informs how scientists can better understand and protect wildlife populations as Arctic ecosystems change. Dr. Petersen investigates genetic relationships between bears along the Hudson Bay coast, including whether females return to familiar areas across generations. His team also studies polar bear denning habitat and its vulnerability to wildfires, helping identify areas that could face more disturbance as a warming climate alters Arctic landscapes.

Combining genetic research, wildlife field surveys and habitat mapping, Dr. Petersen studies Arctic species and their changing environment. As part of the Beluga Bits research team in Churchill, he uses underwater video and participant-supported image analysis to study western Hudson Bay belugas. Researchers record whales above and below the water, while participants examine images and footage to help identify individuals and investigate their health, social structure and whether they return to the Churchill River estuary year after year. Together, these varied approaches help scientists better understand how environmental change affects beluga populations and habitats.