John ‘Mac’ McDonald

Who keeps ocean science afloat miles off the coast?

Video credit: UK Research and Innovation
Video transcript and on-screen captions are available by watching on YouTube.

Zoe meets Mac, a former Royal Marine turned ocean operations expert at Plymouth Marine Laboratory.

With military precision and a deep love for the sea, Mac plays a crucial role behind the scenes helping scientists protect our oceans.

Zoe heads out to sea to try out his job, even climbing aboard a floating research lab.

She discovers how data is collected 24/7, from weather sensors to baby crab larvae, and how it helps reveal the bigger picture of climate change.

Want to know more about the role the ocean plays in the health of our planet? Find out why the colour of the ocean matters (YouTube).

This is season three of 101 jobs that change the world, our series on the people and roles that make research and innovation. Watch them all in our YouTube playlist: 101 jobs that change the world.

Last updated: 3 June 2025

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