Marine Biologist, Filmmaker, Entrepreneur.
Meet Madeline St Clair
INTRODUCING MADS
Ocean Scientist x Storyteller
British scientist Madeline (Mads) St Clair is a tropical marine biologist, divemaster, conservation photographer-filmmaker and expedition leader. Her research interests in how man-made stressors are affecting the ocean have taken her across the globe, from bioacoustics research on coral reefs to documentary projects on the disappearing glaciers of Arctic Greenland. Founder of Women in Ocean Science, she is a fierce advocate for gender equity and works to elevate female voices in the ocean space.
PRESERVING OUR OCEANS
Research & Conservation
A multi-disciplinary coral reef scientist with extensive field research experience, Mads’ research focusses on human stressors and how they impact these complex and vibrant ecosystems. After graduating from the University of Exeter with BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences, she further honed her focus on coral reef ecosystems, earning her Master’s degree in Tropical Marine Biology from Essex University, where she received the Marine Biology Prize for outstanding academic achievement and for her thesis on anthropogenic noise pollution.
From Indonesia to Mozambique, Mads has conducted marine research in many corners of the world and has worked with organisations including Saving The Blue (Bahamas), Mobula Conservation (Baja California), Love The Oceans (Mozambique), Manta Trust (Maldives), Operation Wallacea (Indonesia & Borneo) and Gili Shark Conservation (Indonesia).
With her sights set on a PhD, at present Mads is enjoying challenging the “academia status quo”, having leveraged her social media reach to fund several cutting-edge independent research projects. See her current research here.
capturing the natural world
Photography & Filmmaking
Witnessing the alarming disappearance of marine ecosystems first-hand, Mads pivoted from scientist to advocate, channelling her energy into becoming a freelance natural history filmmaker, commercial drone operator and underwater camera operator. Mads has worked as an underwater photographer in Ningaloo, Indonesia, the UK and the Arctic, shooting content for Sky TV and Channel 4 News alongside several commercial brands. Her drive to learn, investigate and document our oceans has taken her to some of the remotest corners of the planet, and in August 2021, she found herself in the wilderness of Greenland, for an all-female exploration and documentary project, investigating climate change and plastic pollution in the sub-Arctic ocean. In 2023, Mads won Fujifilm’s GFX Regional Grant Challenge, which supported her in documenting the voices of pioneering local women in ocean conservation across the Indo-Pacific. Mads is also passionate about leveraging storytelling on social media platforms to engage new audiences in the natural world.
explore, capture, protect
Expeditions
Driven by a love for total wilderness and rare wildlife, in the past 6 years, Mads has led a number of ocean expeditions to explore some of the remotest corners of our blue planet. Though her conservation and storytelling expeditions have mainly taken her across the tropics, in 2021, Mads joined Team Umiaq during their Greenland expedition as drone operator and filmmaker to capture the ethereal landscape of the Arctic. As a PADI Divemaster, shark diver and experienced guide, Mads’ expeditions prioritise safe, responsible wildlife encounters, which respect both the local community and the preservation and health of the marine environment. In 2022 Mads launched her own expedition company, Semangka Expeditions (formerly Blu Wild Expeditions) curating bespoke, low-impact wildlife and ocean expeditions across three continents.
women in ocean science
Empowering Women
After witnessing a lack of diversity and general disparity within marine science, aged just 22, Mads founded Women in Ocean Science (WOS) - a non-profit organisation dedicated to celebrating and empowering women in marine science and conservation industries. Conceptualised in the field during her master’s research, Mads wanted to highlight the intrinsic link between the need to protect the ocean alongside the need for a diverse, inclusive workforce of those working to protect it.
Today, WOS is a UK-registered charity and has grown into the largest network of female marine scientists; a global community that spans 99 countries, hosts 60K across social platforms and has ambassadors at 60+ institutions across 5 continents. Mads has taken discussions on gender equity to COP26 and the UNOC22 and authored the first sexual harassment in marine science survey. Mads currently serves as Managing Director and leads the Empower Ocean initiative, delivering ocean literacy, marine conservation and dive training programmes to local women within small-island, coral reef communities.
“Fundamentally, supporting women is protecting the ocean and I believe that we're squandering one of the most powerful tools we have for ecosystem resilience by keeping female voices from the ocean conversation.”
Madeline St Clair | Founder and Managing Director, Women in Ocean Science
BLU WILD SWIMWEAR
Entrepreneur
A young and ambitious scientist, exhausted by the archaic and limiting structures of academia, Mads wanted to find new, innovative ways to express her creativity - and crucially, to fund her as an early career marine researcher. So in 2018, Mads started sustainable swimwear brand Blu Wild. The brand has since evolved into a global sensation and an emerging leader in sustainable, functional swimwear in the ocean space. Driven by Mads' innovative spirit, Blu Wild’s line of flattering, high-performance swimwear pieces are designed for ocean sports like scuba diving, surfing and paddleboarding. Rooted in environmental responsibility and inspired by nature's patterns, Blu Wild exemplifies the possibility of creating swimwear that not only looks good but also makes a positive impact on the environment and the people who wear it. At the end of 2023, with Mads choosing to focus on science and filmmaking, Blu Wild closed it’s doors. Mads was thrilled when Blu Wild brand was acquired by Ocean Born Foundation in early 2024. Mads remains involved, continuing to infuse her vision and passion into the brand as a creative advisor and ambassador, ensuring that Blu Wild stays true to its roots while embracing new opportunities for growth and impact.
Awards & Accolades
International Photography Awards (2023)
British Photography Awards | Honorable Mention for “Drone” category.
Fujifilm GFX Regional Grant (2023)
British Photography Awards | Shortlisted for “Water life” category.
British Photography Awards Shortlist (2022)
British Photography Awards | Shortlisted for “Water life” category.
Ocean Culture Life Storytelling Grant (2022)
Ocean Culture Life | Grant recipient for “Educate” category awarded to support Empower Ocean storytelling.
PADI Ambassordiver (2022)
PADI AmbassaDivers™ are committed to elevating diving in their communities and across the planet.
Ocean Awards (2021)
Blue Marine Foundation | Finalist in Young Initiative Category for work with non-profit organisation Women in Ocean Science.
GoPro & PADI Photo Competition (2020)
GoPro & PADI | 1st Place in Underwater Photo Competition
Marine Science Prize (2018)
Essex University | Recipient of award for outstanding academic achievement and highest thesis mark during master’s degree.
Alfred Russel Wallace Grant (2017)
Alfred Russel Wallace Grant | Grant recipient for coral reef bioacoustics fieldwork project in Indonesia.
Clare Nunn Travel Prize (2017)
University of Exeter | Recipient of travel grant to conduct shark conservation fieldwork in Indonesia.
advocacy & activism
Speaking Engagements
An experienced public speaker who enjoys motivating others to care for the natural world, Mads has enjoyed sharing her passion for the ocean at a number of events across the globe. Mads is also incredibly passionate about leveraging social media for ocean advocacy, and you can find her speaking out on Tiktok, Instagram, YouTube or on her podcast, Ocean Poddy.
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United Nations Ocean Conference | Gender Equity in Coral Reef Communities
Love The Oceans | Marine Megafauna Ecology & Threats
Love The Oceans | Underwater Photography Workshop
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COP26 Extreme Hangout | Gender Equity in Ocean Conservation
COP26 Extreme Hangout | Climate Change Through The Eyes of A Young Scientist
COP26 Arctic Basecamp | Greenland Expedition: A Changing Arctic
Ocean Bottle | No Bullsh*t Sustainability
Bangor University | Marine Conservation Careers
Ocean Mimic | Photography for Conservation
Scuba Digital Dive Show | Whale Sharks of Indonesia
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Ocean Poddy | Podcast Host
Women in Ocean Science Podcast | Podcast Host
The Waterwoman Podcast | Ep. 13
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Carpe Diem Cruises | Manta Ray/Whale Shark Biology & Ecology
Adelaar Cruises | Manta Ray Biology & Ecology
