Biography

Gemini-nominated Ziya Tong is co-host of DAILY PLANET, Canada’s daily science show. Bringing a wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for science and the environment to the DAILY PLANET platform, Tong resonates with audiences of all ages.

Before co-hosting DAILY PLANET, Tong served as host and field producer for PBS’ national primetime series, WIRED SCIENCE produced in conjunction with Wired Magazine. In Canada, Tong hosted the CBC’s Emmy®-nominated series ZeD, a pioneer of open source television, for which she received a Gemini Viewer’s Choice Award nomination. Tong also served as host, writer and director for the Canadian science series THE LEADING EDGE and joined the team at NOVA scienceNOW as a new contributor in 2009.

In New York, Tong served as a senior producer for Orientation.com, a global internet news portal for developing countries partnered with the BBC and UNDP. In 2003, Tong launched the Ethical Media Division for Cowie and Fox Creative, one of Vancouver’s leading interactive agencies, to promote green branding for non-profit and environmental groups. A strong supporter of public broadcasting, Tong also participates in Media that Matters, a conference that promotes social change and media activism.

Tong received her Masters Degree in communications from McGill University, where she graduated on the Dean’s Honour List. Tong also received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in psychology and sociology from the University of British Columbia.

With a passion for culture and world travel, Tong is working to further develop her language skills speaking fluent English and Cantonese and working on her French, Mandarin and Arabic. Tong has also travelled extensively to over 50 countries and has hosted ISLAND ESCAPES, a travel show on CTV. And now, as Tong enters her fourth full season co-hosting Discovery Channel’s flagship series··· she is set to welcome a new co-host to the fold as Dan Riskin enters a new, improved and HD-ready DAILY PLANETbeginning August 29.