Born in Australia to Jewish-German refugees, Benjamin (Ben) Klaas Selinger completed his schooling at Mortdale Public School and Sydney Boy's High. He then underwent compulsory National Service training from 1957 to 1959 and enrolled at Sydney University. He graduated with an Honours degree in surface chemistry in 1960 followed by a Masters degree in electron spin resonance spectroscopy (1961). The next year was spent working as a Teaching Fellow followed by a move to Germany to undertake a PhD at the Technical University of Stuttgart (1962-1964).

Upon returning to Australia, Ben Selinger took up chemistry research posts. However, influenced greatly by his father who was a founding member of the Australian Consumers Association (ACA), his interests were soon diverted to the law and consumer protection. He joined the ACA and helped establish many of the Australian standards for items such as condoms, soaps, sunscreens and sunglasses. Selinger was a great believer in the importance of scientific communication and has written numerous books, over 150 scientific articles and countless media articles. He was also the resident expert for several years on the ABCs radio show Dial-a-Scientist and for decades wrote a regular science and technology column for the Canberra Times.

Ben Selinger has been heavily involved with many professional bodies. His numerous positions include Chair, Independent Panel on Intractable Waste; member of the NHMRC Food Standards Committee; Executive (for ten years), Canberra Consumers; Commissioner, National Occupational Commission (now Worksafe Australia); Inaugural Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Registration Authority for agriculture and veterinary chemicals; and Chair of the Homebush Bay Environmental Reference Group for the Olympic Co-ordination Authority. Selinger presently consults on issues relating to the management of science and technology and is often called to court to provide expert evidence in cases.