The British Science Association (BSA) has today (22 November) announced that the biochemist, wild animal biologist and presenter, Liz Bonnin, has been awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Association for her outstanding contribution to engaging a broad range of audiences with science, conservation and the environment. 

Honorary Fellowships of the Association are bestowed on individuals who embody the BSA’s vision, and who have made an outstanding contribution to work that supports its mission. This could be in a variety of ways, such as: 

• Supporting hands-on STEM education and empowering young people from disadvantaged backgrounds; 
• Challenging stereotypes of what a scientist looks like, what scientists do, and showcasing science as part of culture; and/or 
• Leading public dialogue about science’s place in society. 

Liz Bonnin will also be speaking at the BSA's annual Huxley Summit later this month

Liz Bonnin, who will be speaking at the BSA’s Huxley Summit, taking place later this month, is a well-known science and wildlife television presenter – she recently fronted a landmark documentary, Drowning in Plastic, for the BBC – with a masters in Wild Animal Biology from the Royal Veterinary College and Zoological Society of London. She has presented a variety of television programmes, from Bang Goes the Theory and Horizon to Stargazing Live, as well as a number of shows exploring the science of animal behavior, such as Super Smart Animals and Big Blue Live.  

Liz joins the BSA’s illustrious rank of Honorary Fellows alongside individuals such as Sir David Attenborough, Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Dr Helen Sharman, Baroness Martha Lane-Fox, choreographer Wayne MacGregor, actor and writer Ben Miller, comedian Robin Ince, and broadcaster Dallas Campbell. 

Liz Bonnin said: “I’m thrilled to have been nominated as an Honorary Fellow of the British Science Association. The BSA’s mission – of increasing the diversity and inclusivity of science, and of growing the community of people who engage with science, both as professionals and non-professionals – is a challenge that I too am passionate about tackling. I look forward to working with the BSA in the future as they seek to foster a more scientifically literate society that recognises the importance of science, not only as a key component of our culture but in the essential role it plays in finding solutions to our planet’s most pressing environmental issues.” 

Katherine Mathieson, Chief Executive of the BSA, said: “I’m so pleased to welcome Liz as an Honorary Fellow of British Science Association. She has long been a supporter of our work, from participating as a judge in competitions that celebrate young people’s achievements in science and engineering to contributing to the public discourse on the pressing need for more diversity in science, a topic that is at the very core of the BSA’s mission.  I am looking forward to hearing her talk on plastics at our forthcoming Huxley Summit, which brings together business leaders, policy makers and researchers to engage with the issues that inform the public attitudes towards innovation, risk and trust.”