Dr. Alister Macdonald graduated in Zoology at Bristol University. After post doctoral research at the University of East Anglia he moved to Aberdeen University, becoming Reader In Physiology in 1984. His work on deep sea animals with Dr. I Gilchrist tackled the recovery of small animals without decompression, their tolerance to pressure and recovery from decompression paralysis. Additionally, he demonstrated homeoviscous adaptation of deep sea fish membranes to high pressure. Work at sea alternated with laboratory studies of cellular processes at high pressure; membrane bilayers, membrane bound enzymes, ionic regulation, electrophysiology - latterly patch clamp studies of various ion channels and of anaesthetic - ion channel interactions. Collaboration with much valued students and senior colleagues was a key part of this wide range of activity, involving The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (USA) and the Bermuda Marine Biological Station for Research, The Rowett Research Institute and the Marine Laboratory, (both in Aberdeen), Queen's University, Belfast, Brunel University, and the Universities of Liverpool, Nottingham, North Carolina and Western Australia, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, and the Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany.

High pressure and High pressure environments.- High pressure: molecules, chemical processes and cellular structures.- The high pressure micro-environment of vertebrate load bearing joints- Effects of high pressure on the activity of ordinary animals, including humans, and on the function of their excitable cells and ion channels.- The effects of decompression and subsequent re-compression on the activity of deep sea animals and eukaryote cells. The isobaric collection of deep sea animals.-Molecular adaptation to high pressure: proteins in deep sea animals.- Molecular adaptation to high pressure: membranes.- Prokaryotes at high pressure in the Oceans and the Deep Biosphere.- Hydrothermal vents: the inhabitants, their way of life and their adaptation to high pressure.- Buoyancy at depth.- Divers: Air breathing animals, including humans, at high pressure.- Adaptation to high pressure in the laboratory.- High pressure equipment used in the laboratory, at sea and at depth.