Born: 1957
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Education: Ph.D. in Biogeochemistry and J.D. in Law
Occupation: Cave diver, geomicrobiologist
Expeditions: Diving into the ocean’s Black Holes and Blue Holes
Favorite Place: In a Blue Hole
Best Discovery: New bacteria that can heat water to 37°C, found when diving in a the Black Hole on South Andros Island in the Bahamas. Named the new bacterial species Allocromatium palmeirr in honor of her late husband
Favorite Items in the Field: Ice-cold, clean water
Personal Hero: Andy Hanson, diving instructor
Hobbies: Diving, sailing, tennis, swimming, rollerblading
Website: www.blueholes.org
Advice: Believe you can or believe you can’t. Either way you are right.
