Manuel Fonseca

Manuel is an energetic conservationist and wildlife journalist born in Bogotá, Colombia. He grew up in Costa Rica, where he fell in love with nature and conservation. This led him to study biology before stepping out of his comfort zone to pursue environmental journalism. Disenchanted with the rigorous and impersonal nature of academic publishing, he became passionate about seeking discomfort in new narratives that make valuable scientific knowledge more accessible to broader audiences. Manuel has spent most of his career deep in remote rainforests, following monkeys, setting camera traps to find wildcats and witnessing the daily conflicts affecting natural habitats. He is deeply interested in exploring immersive narratives that not only engage audiences but also amplify the voices of wildlife and environmental leaders who depend on these wild areas. He has published reportages and chronicles in local media such as 070 and La Torna. In 2020, Manuel received the Idea Wild grant to produce three audio reportages on the challenges of marine conservation in Colombia. In his free time, he also co-produces a podcast called Soy Científic@ where he and his colleague engage experts in discussions on complex scientific subjects, making them entertaining and relatable.