Philip Mladenov was born in Toronto, Canada but now lives and works in New Zealand. Philip has more than 40 years of professional experience in marine biological research, teaching and exploration. While completing his Honours degree in Science at the University of Toronto, Philip participated in pioneering research on Arctic 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 coral reef ecology 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. His thesis research focused on the reproductive ecology of marine invertebrates. 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 Alison 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 foundation Professor of Marine Science at the University of Otago in New Zealand. He established a pioneering research programme on the marine ecology of New Zealand’s unique fiord systems as well as conducting marine research in the Cook Islands, Fiji and Australia. During this period he 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 (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 broader environmental concerns. He works with government agencies, politicians and large companies to build awareness and strategic responses to climate change, environmental degradation, and resource over-exploitation. He is currently a Ministerial appointee to New Zealand's Environmental Protection Authority. Philip is author of some 90 scientific papers and a broad range of consulting reports, government reviews, popular articles, as well as a book on marine biology which is part of Oxford University Press' popular Very Short Introduction series. This book has been translated and published in Japan and is currently being translated for publication in China.