Liz Bonnin’s love of science and the environment harks back to her school days where she studied biochemistry at university. After graduating, she started as a TV presenter on shows including BBC One’s Top of the Pops (1964-2006) and RI:SE (2002-2003) before returning to her first love and completing a masters in wild animal biology and conservation. Her main interests during her studies were big cat conservation and animal behaviour and intelligence. In order to write about this, she set up and carried out a research project on the diet of tigers in the Bardiya National Park, Nepal, which saw her come first in her class.
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It’s fair to say that Liz Bonnin’s TV career has drawn heavily on her academic expertise and passion for science and the environment.
She started her scientific broadcasting in 2005 where she presented Gadgets, Gadgets, Gadgets followed by Bang Goes the Theory (2009-2014). In 2010, she joined the cast of Autumnwatch (2005-), Stargazing Live (2011-2017), Countrywise (2009-2016) alongside Ben Fogle and has worked several times for BBC Two’s Horizon (1964-), covering topics from the future of technology to the sustainability of zoos. In 2015, she worked with Matt Baker and Steve Backshall on the BBC One show Big Blue Live, as well as being the host of their wildlife series covering animal migrations, Nature’s Epic Journeys (2016).
She has presented a number of documentaries including Science Friction (2008) which looked at taboos in discussions of scientific topics (such as nuclear power), as well as contributing to BBC Two’s series on the work of the London Natural History Museum, Museum of Life (2010), BBC One’s Egypt’s Lost Cities (2011), Operation Snow Tiger (2013), Animals in Love (2015) which looked at the emotional lives of animals including elephants and alligators, Drowning in Plastic (2018) looking at marine plastic pollutions, and Penguins: Meet the Family (2020).
Other TV credits include wildlife and animal behaviour programmes Super Smart Animals (2012), Animals through the Night: Sleepover at the Zoo (2017) and Animal Odd Couples (2013).
Liz also has her own BBC Radio 5 Live podcast called What Planet Are We On? which looks at the impact we as a species are having on the planet, and the solutions we can adopt. She has interviewed a number of high profile guests on the show including Sir David Attenborough and Idris Elba.
She is very passionate about working with companies and charities who raise awareness of environmental issues. In 2004, she was locked in a giant kennel along with MPs Paul Burstow, Evan Harris and Ivan Henderson, actress Liza Goddard, BBC presenter Lizzie Greenwood and DJ Becky Jago in a stunt to launch the annual RSPCA Week to raise awareness and funds. She has also worked alongside The Wildlife Trust, British Science Association, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Space for Giants, the Galapagos Conservation Trust, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and the Environmental Investigation Agency.
Liz brings her love of the environment and nature to national and international titles in print and online including for the BBC, Huffington Post, the British Science Association, EIA and The Independent Newspaper.
Liz is a proficient conference facilitator and awards host and has presented at various events, including at the UK’s National Science and Engineering Competition Awards, Galapagos Day at the Royal Geographical Society, the Opening of the Museum of Zoology at the University of Cambridge, the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards and the Natural History Museum’s prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards. She is smart, charismatic and friendly, making her the perfect addition to any event
– STEM
– Climate Change
– Plastic Pollution
– Environment
– Wildlife
– Science (STEM)
– Sustainability
Liz’s work on television, radio and in print incorporates sustainability and natural history, as well as technology. She is a natural communicator, confidently explaining the complexities of science to any audience.
We invited Liz to speak with us at a forest biodiversity event we were organising. From the very beginning, Liz was enthusiastic and fully committed. On the day itself Liz delivered a powerful and compelling speech. Her vision and passion for the subject shone through and left a lasting impression on all who attended. Liz was fully professional and a pleasure to work with.
Pat Neville, Communications Manager, Coillte Forest