MEET DR. MARTIN
Dr Martin is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Mahe Bleu. He received his Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology from the Imperial College London and was a post-doctoral fellow at John Radcliffe Hospital before coming to Seychelles in 2015 to explore the Indian Ocean Sea Kelp, and later he lanched Mahe Bleu in 2019.
ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE...
Where did you grow up?
In a town called in Yorkshire, England. That’s where I went to school up. I then got my Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology from the Imperial College London.
Were you always interested in science?
What sparked your interest?
I have been interested in science, ever since junior school, but I was also fascinated with making something practical. I was inspired by my father, who was an entrepreneur and always came out with a breakthrough innovation and launching businesses. He was highly innovative, and it really inspired me – I wanted to do good science, but with practical applications.
Your scientific journey, your education and your research, took a decade and you must have faced many obstacles. What keeps you going?
My father always told me, Never Give Up . He told me so many dramatic stories of his biggest challenges, lowest moments, and worst mistakes―and how he uses tenacity and creativity to turn defeat into victory. Just simply do not give up.
What brings you to Seychelles and Why are you so fascinated by the Indian Ocean?
Seychelles, renowned as "the World's Last Eden", possesses a unique ecology, featuring large coral reef complexes and 25, tropical rainforests, and 270 flora, including 75 endemic species. And 268 species of red algae, 108 species of green algae and 59 species of brown algae have been documented so far (435 species in total).
Seychelles has an EEZ of 1,374,000 km2 of ocean and 115 islands containing a UNESCO World Heritage marine site—Aldabra Atoll, one of the largest atolls in the world with rich terrestrial and marine biodiversity. This represents a huge surface area and consequently a great expanse of algae cover. It presents a good avenue for algae research and exploitation for the economy of the island.
We worked for 3 years to find the legendary curing energies of Indian Ocean Algae through fermentation and complex sonic chemical reactions. Every ingredient that goes into Mahe Bleu is fermented. Each ingredient is converted into micronutrients, so it can penetrate deeply into skin cells.
Lastly, tell us about your skincare routine?
Apart from trying all the new Mahe Bleu Peptide Skincare products, I use Water Brightening Program three times a week. When I’m traveling, I also take the Active Repaire Cocoa Bean Serum with me because, airplanes and arid environments can be traumatic for the skin.