Liz Bonnin: 'I was always meant to wander the planet and find my roots'

"As human beings, we like to put people in boxes. I’m a little bit of a rebel when it comes to that,” says Liz Bonnin. “I’ve never wanted to toe to line.”

Liz, who used to present Off the Rails on RTÉ, is talking about how she moved from entertainment to fronting documentaries on science and wildlife. It’s clear that science is her passion, as she waxes lyrical about her “obsession” with big cats and making programmes for Horizon, the BBC’s flagship science show

However, after studying biochemistry at Trinity College, she admits to “falling into” a career in broadcasting.

“A friend of friend offered me a job – they were doing a music show and I was taking a year out, so I decided to have a go for a laugh. One thing led to another and I ended up working in telly for a couple of years,” she says.

After a few years in RTÉ, she moved on to London in 2002 where she presented RI:SE on Channel 4 and BBC’s Top of the Pops. Though she enjoyed the work, Liz knew she would return to academia.

“I was having fun presenting entertainment TV, all the while knowing that I was going to go back to school to study wildlife. I think in your 20s there’s no pressure – have fun, enjoy, investigate. I’m glad that I was floating for a bit.

“If I hadn’t had done that, thinking, ‘no I must find my career in science,’ I would have never discovered the beautiful creativity of making programmes and I wouldn’t have been able to combine my two passions,” she says.

In 2008, Liz took a break from television to study a Master’s in Wild Animal Biology with the Royal Veterinary College and Zoological Society of London. After setting up a project on tigers in Nepal and graduating first in her class, she decided to try her hand at presenting science.

“I never really considered a long-term career in television, but because I learned about how to tell a good story, I thought it would be nice to communicate what I really care about and hopefully try to make a difference that way,” she says.

“So, I approached a really good agent and I went to her with a show reel with Top of the Pops on it. I said: ‘I know this is music and entertainment but I’m doing a master’s and this is what I’m really into – do you think there’s a chance I could do a few programmes on science and natural history?’ I’ve never looked back since.

“I’ve done around three or four Horizons now, and I think to myself I have presented the most reputable, highly respected science programme on the BBC. To me, that’s a little bit crazy and surreal. I’m dead proud. I did one recently on zoos, which is a passion project of mine. I feel really lucky. I think we have a role on television to entertain but also to inform and enforce changes when we can.”

Liz is currently working with Bord na Móna on its Naturally Driven initiative to create a more sustainable Ireland.

“For an energy company to do that with so many ambitions and positive targets, is music to my ears. I spend my life travelling around the planet, finding out about wildlife and biodiversity, why the planet is suffering under the strain of seven billion of us now,” she adds.

Liz is also passionate about educating younger people on opportunities in science.

“It’s a really satisfying part of my job to tell kids, especially girls, you can do and be whatever you want to be in this life,” she says.

“Girls are really into science and actually do better in many of the sciences, including maths. Stereotypical male subjects do not exist – that is a fallacy. But between the ages of 13 to 16, girls get discouraged. The reasons are really complex, but includes adults influencing them not to like the subjects because they are perceived as more male.

“What’s clear is they have the passion and curiosity to be excellent scientists. We have a responsibility as adults to figure out why they lose that passion, and to make things other than make-up and being a ‘vlogger’ cool.”

Born in France to a French father and Trinidadian mother of Indian Portuguese descent, Liz moved to Ireland at the age of nine and was never a homebird.

“My grandmother instilled in me a wanderlust and a passion for travel. We would always go on adventures with her. That’s always been in me,” she says.

She has no plans to return to Ireland, and instead plans on continuing her globetrotting for many years to come.

“My family are from all over the place – I have Indian, Portuguese, Chinese, French and South American heritage. Genetically, I was always meant to wander the planet and find my roots,” she says.

“There’s nothing better than the feeling of landing in a new country and knowing that you’re going to discover the wonders of its wildlife…that’s like Christmas every day for me.”

To find out more about Bord na Móna Naturally Driven, visit www.bordnamona.ie. CL