Ziya Tong
Gemini-nominated journalist and television broadcaster Ziya Tong has been sharing her passion for science, nature, and technology for almost two decades. She is the co-director and on-screen host of the critically acclaimed documentary film, Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics. This groundbreaking feature film was an official selection for the prestigious SXSW Film Festival in 2024. Ziya was also the former co-host of Daily Planet, which was Discovery Canada’s flagship science program. Bringing a wealth of knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to everything she does, Ziya makes herself available for collaborations with organizations that align with her values.
Winner of the 2020 Lane Anderson Award and shortlisted for the 2020 RBC Taylor Prize, Ziya’s bestselling book, The Reality Bubble received high praise from some of the biggest names in environmental science, including David Suzuki and Dr. Jane Goodall. The book takes readers on a journey through the hidden things that shape our lives in unexpected, and sometimes dangerous, ways. It has even been compared to The Matrix.
Before Daily Planet, Ziya was the host of CBC’s Emmy-nominated series ZeD, where she was nominated for a Gemini Viewer’s Choice Award. She also served as host and field producer for the PBS national primetime series, Wired Science, produced in conjunction with WIRED magazine. She was also the host, writer, and director for the Canadian science series, The Leading Edge, and a correspondent for NOVA scienceNOW alongside Neil deGrasse Tyson on PBS.
In the spring of 2019, Ziya joined Canada Reads — CBC’s annual “battle of the books” — as one of their five celebrity champions. Each champion chose one book they felt every Canadian should read, with Ziya supporting Holocaust survivor Max Eisen’s memoir, By Chance Alone. After a week of intense debates, Ziya and Max had the prestigious honour of winning that year’s Canada Reads.
A passionate advocate for the planet, Ziya sits on the board of directors for the World Wildlife Fund.