Adventuring with Purpose with Welsh Biologist and Broadcaster, Lizzie Daly
Born with a healthy curiosity for the natural world, Welsh wildlife biologist, broadcaster, filmmaker and conservationist, Lizzie Daly, has carved out a career travelling across continents to conduct research and film wildlife. Working as a presenter on Cbeebies, CBBC, National Geographic, BBC Two and Animal Planet, she has also been a regular host on the BBC Earth Unplugged YouTube channel.
As a conservationist with a fierce passion to care for our oceans and protect our wild spaces, Lizzie is an ambassador for the Marine Conservation Society, the Jane Goodall Institute UK, the Norwich Science Festival and the first ever female patron of ORCA.
In our latest podcast, we catch up with Lizzie to discuss adventuring with purpose and the appetite for exploration we seem to have cultivated since returning from lockdown.
“We don’t have the luxury these days of just flying off to far reaching places without thinking of the consequences, so one of the most important things to ask yourself before an adventure is ‘what is the reason I’m going?“
Lizzie also discusses how documentaries explore and connect people, and why as an academic, working with social media is key to closing the gap between the public and science.
“I would love to see more scientists in front of the camera. There’s still a big divide between science and media and I think the next move in documentary making about the natural world is to close that gap”.
“There’s so much you can utilise from science as it underpins everything, but we’re not quick enough to pick that up in the media. We need the right voice to push that information forward and give it the impact that it needs”.
Attending last year’s Blue Earth Summit, Lizzie speaks about how people can adventure with purpose and the benefits of attending the event.
“So many of us have an appetite to see things, to learn and explore, but the big challenge now is to balance those things with the plethora of things that are happening with our planet.”
“The thing I loved about BES last year was that it was a real good in-between. It wasn’t just for the scientists or business owners or brands, it also talked a lot about political influence and it was framed in a way that fit into the bigger picture”.
“It’s a great web bringing all these voices together. I genuinely left feeling really pumped from the big questions asked. A lot came out of it that I’d like to see propelled into this year”.
Lizzie further discusses her love for the ocean and the positive impact it has on her mental and physical health on both a personal and professional level.
“The ocean is more than something that gives me great mental relief. It’s a place where I feel grounded, I can learn new things, I can enjoy myself with friends. It ultimately connects everyone on this planet and continues to inspire. There’s a bit of blue thread in everyone but it depends how much you activate it. The more time I spend in the ocean the stronger that connection becomes”.
