Gert Everaert (°1985) is graduated as Master in Bioscience Engineering in 2008 from Ghent University and obtained his PhD in Applied Biological Science in 2015 at the same university with his dissertation: ‘Potential risk of organic micropollutants on marine phytoplankton in the greater North Sea: integration of modelling and experimental approaches’. His research background is in, ecological modelling, marine ecotoxicology, and microplastic research. At the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ, Ostend), I lead the research unit on ‘Ocean and Human Health’. In this interdisciplinary field of research, we aim to improve our understanding of the health benefits (or drawbacks) from marine and coastal ecosystems and evaluate the applicability and elucidate the reasons behind the Blue Gym hypothesis. The team consists of 2 post-doctoral researchers, 4 PhD students, and project-based co-workers. We collaborate with biologists, engineers, sociologists, economists, psychologists, and medical doctors at national and international level. In addition, plastic-related research is high on our research agenda, aiming to assess its presence, effects, and risks in and for human and marine life. Part of my time is dedicated to my function as data science manager where my task is to initiate, lead, and perform data-driven research activities. Throughout my relatively young career, I received multiple awards and grants. Working at VLIZ, my research unit plays a key role as knowledge broker and we have close connections with the marine industry, policy makers, citizens and marine researchers.