PHILIP MLADENOV
FOUNDER, OCEAN SCIENTIST, AUTHOR, AND WEBSITE MODERATOR
Philip’s Brief Bio
I’m a marine scientist who is passionate about the oceans and their restoration. I have an insatiable interest across many areas of the ocean sciences including ocean conservation and restoration, historical marine ecology, marine invertebrate reproduction, coral reef ecology, fiord ecology, mariculture and fisheries management. I also have an interest in other areas of science and technology including climate change, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and underwater vehicles. I love working, exploring and playing in the oceans. Wherever I happen to be in an ocean I find myself contemplating what this region was like in the past, what effects people are having on it now, and what it might look like in the future.
Stuffy Official Bio
Philip was born and educated in Canada and moved to New Zealand in 1989 to take up the Foundation Chair in Marine Science at the University of Otago.
Philip has more than 40 years of professional experience in marine and environmental research, teaching and exploration. While completing his Honours degree in Science at the University of Toronto, Philip participated in pioneering research on Arctic lakes and sea-ice biota as part of the International Biological Program (IBP). He then studied for an MSc in Marine Science at the Institute of Oceanography at McGill University, completing thesis research on the reproductive biology of coral reef invertebrates while based at McGill University’s Bellairs Research Institute on Barbados. He completed his PhD in Marine Biology at the University of Alberta while based at the Western Canadian Universities’ Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. During this period, he also worked for a marine environmental consulting company conducting research on Arctic marine ecosystems as part of a programme to assess the potential impacts of oil and gas exploration in the Arctic Ocean.
Philip’s first academic appointment was at Mount Allison University in Canada where he taught undergraduate marine biology and carried out research based at the Huntsman Marine Laboratory, in St Andrews. He also mounted an extensive research programme in the Caribbean supported by National Geographic and other funding agencies. This programme involved research on coral reef ecology and fisheries, including submersible-based research on deep water tropical communities.
He then accepted the position of Professor of Marine Science at the University of Otago where he established a pioneering research programme on the marine ecology of New Zealand’s unique fiord systems, as well as conducting research in the Cook Islands, Fiji and Australia. He also led a small team of scientists and engineers who re-built a Perry class submersible into a modern five-person research submersible, the Antipodes, capable of dives to depths of greater than 300 metres. The Antipodes explored the deep waters of the Piopiotahi Marine Reserve in Milford Sound, New Zealand, a World Heritage Conservation area. In 2009, Antipodes was purchased by OceanGate, Inc., a submarine operating company in the USA. It provides commercial and scientific support for researchers, scientists, filmmakers and content providers (See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipodes_(submarine)).
More recently, in response to the challenges presented by human impacts on our planet, Philip’s work has expanded to include a range of environmental issues. He has worked with government agencies, politicians and large companies to build awareness and strategic responses to climate change, environmental degradation, and resource over-exploitation. These programmes include the development of renewable energy projects in New Zealand and internationally, and management of freshwater quality in New Zealand through the development of precision agriculture technologies and training programmes.
Philip is author of over 90 scientific papers and a broad range of consulting reports, government reviews, and popular articles.
Marine Biology – A Very Short Introduction – 2nd Edition Published 2020
A well-received book on marine biology which is part of Oxford University Press’ popular Very Short Introduction series. The book has been translated and published in Japan and is currently being translated for publication in China. Read more about the 2nd Edition of my book published in 2020 on the Restoring Oceans Blog.