Ian MacDonald is a Professor of Biological Oceanography at Florida State University . In his research , he uses imaging and GIS techniques to investigate the ecology of deep-sea hydrocarbon seeps , primarily in the Gulf of Mexico . He was among the scientists to question the size of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill , the largest oil spill in U.S. history . Dr. MacDonald used satellite imagery to challenge estimates of the size of the spill by BP and U.S. governmental scientists , and to produce independent scientific evidence of the spill 's significance , which BP and the U.S. governmental scientists eventually confirmed . He holds a Ph.D. in Oceanography from Texas A&M University
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Ian MacDonald (oceanographer)