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Pam is an associate professor of Marine Geology and Geophysics at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami. She has been sailing and doing research in the Bahamas for twenty years. Specializing in studies of tropical, shallow marine sediments and reefs, she has written more than sixty publications for scientific journals. She presently represents the University of Miami on the Council for the Bahamas National Trust.

In the late 1980’s, Pam and her husband Jack Fell had their sailboat anchored at the Exuma Land and Sea Park. They were discussing the exciting recent discovery of stromatolites (reefs built by microbes rather than corals) at Lee Stocking Island. Deputy Park Wardens Bob and Anita Raider pointed out that similar structures were present off Stocking Island, near Georgetown. This astute observation led Pam to a 20 year career studying the biology and geology of living marine stromatolites!

Pam is curently project leader for the Research Initiative on Bahamian Stromatolites, an international group of researchers from the US and Europe (see www.stromatolites.info). In 2003, through the generosity of Highborne Cay Plantations, the RIBS team built a small laboratory on Highborne Cay to study stromatolites in the fringing reef complex. Continuous access to the field site on a year-round basis has resulted in an unprecedented understanding of stromatolite growth-- relating beach dynamics, to population changes within the stromatolite-building communities, and resultant reefal structures. In 2008, the stromatolite field station moved 70 miles south to Little Darby Island. The Little Darby Research Station has allowed the RIBS research program to expandto south Exuma and provides a base for the educational and outreach activities of The Danguillecourt Project.

Stromatolites are Pam’s connection to Sergio and Jackie Danquillecourt. Sergio and Jackie took special interest in the stromatolite research program, and enthusiastically supported it. Through the Danguillecourt Project in honour of Sergio and Jackie, Pam hopes to give back to the Bahamas some of the joy and inspiration that the Bahamas has brought to her life.