Jackie Randell - St. John, New Brunswick, Canada
     Coming back to the lab was one of the best decisions I have made. Living on a tiny island in the Bahamas and being given the opportunity to see things like a 14 ft. sawfish makes the thought of leaving the lab and returning to normal life a difficult choice. Also, working with people who make me laugh daily and hearing things that most people really don't need to hear has corrupted me a bit and taught me some valuable phrases that I can use at truck stops.

Lilian Gehrke - Kiel, Germany
     Hi, everybody! I am in my 7th semester studying marine biology in Kiel, Germany. I am doing my masters project here in Bimini about prey choice criteria of juvenile lemon sharks. This place is very nice; I enjoy seeing all the crazy stuff happening here. I really like all kinds of sharks. Apart from sharks, I love funny sports like kiteboarding, snowboarding, skating, rock-climbing, mountain biking, and martial arts. Being a part of PIT has been one of the best times I've had since I've been here. Fette Grüsse nach Kiel!

Matthias Kühn - Philadelphia, PA, USA
     I: was born in 1982 in Dresden, Germany, am a senior majoring in zoology and German at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, am on the Wisconsin crew team, like sports music, and partying, have an illustrious singing career here in Bimini, and enjoy "CDT."

Melissa Yencho - Fairfield, CT, USA
     Hey everyone! My name is Melissa Yencho and I recently graduated from Coastal Carolina University with dual degrees in marine science and biology with a minor in chemistry. On to fun stuff: In addition to loving sharks, I also enjoy yoga, longlining, rollerblading, singing, anything creative, and teaching myself bass guitar. I also enjoy movies, music and enjoying my friends' company. My favorite sharks are the bull shark and the nurse shark with an extra special place in my heart for C. plumbeus. In the future I plan on studying veterinary medicine of aquatic animals. I am also going to pursue a masters of marine biology at University of Charleston in the Fall. Namaste.

Pelican - Bimini, Bahamas
     It was January of 2002, and I had settled down in the beautiful islands of Bimini for the winter. One day while taking a leisurely swim between North and South Bimini, I was struck by a boat and lost my wing. Soon after, I was "rescued" by a tall, lanky, American boy and a beautiful Brazilian girl, and brought to the Sharklab. Since then, I have claimed the dock as my kingdom, been fed like a queen, and have been trying to convince everyone that my name is not Pelly.

Rebecca Dolson - Guelph, Ontario, Canada
     Hi all! Well, I am a 3rd year marine and freshwater bio student at the University of Guelph. I am having the time of my life here in Bimini. I never expected to meet so many awesome people, and I can't begin to describe the scenery or the amazing work we get to participate in. I want to thank everyone who helped me to get here for all your support: Doc, for letting me come, Ryan, just because, and a special thank you to Alan. I love sharks -- all of them -- but I hate bugs!

Ruth Harris - Southampton, Hampshire, UK
     I have been obsessed with sharks since before I can remember and anyone who knows me will tell you that once I get started talking about sharks I won't shut up. My diving experiences with sharks made me totally in awe of their beauty and grace, and I hope my work will encourage conservation and understanding of these amazing creatures. I now have a Masters on Oceanography for which I was lucky enough to study sand tiger sharks (my favourite shark!). I have been here at the Sharklab for 3 months now and have seen and learnt so much, there's no doubt I'll spend my life studying sharks, and I hope to find a PhD on sand tigers shortly. I miss and love all my family and friends who have been a tower of strength and encouragement. I am especially proud of a certain friend who once wouldn't come in my room as I had a poster of a shark but has now actually swum with one! Yes, Polls -- that's you! My favourite times (without sharks) are spent socialising with friends, playing with my niece and nephews, listening to hip-hop and R&B, and dancing, with a bit of yoga thrown in for good measure. Big thanks to all my friends, family, and of course, everyone at the Sharklab! Love you all!

Samuel Gruber - Miami, FL, USA
    I've always loved the water and the beaches, and as a child on Miami Beach began my interest in marine biology by collecting shells from the age of seven. As I grew up I spent most of my days in or on the water, teaching myself to SCUBA dive at age 13 in 1952, and did competition swimming and springboard diving as my major sport. In my junior year at college, while spear fishing I was menaced by a huge hammerhead shark. I was absolutely frightened and awed yet the giant fish was beautiful, magnificent and circling me! When he did not actually kill and consume me, I knew that I wanted to learn more about them, so right then and there I started my lifetime work on these splendid creatures. I decided to study the lemon shark because they were available locally and were able to survive in captivity fairly well. I spent my early years in the laboratory studying their behavior and their sensory (vision, olfaction and hearing) physiology. But, soon I was spending so much time in the lab that I felt I was losing my focus on the animal itself. So decided change careers and to go out in the field. For over a decade I went to the Bahamas and Bimini in search of the lemon shark and its mysteries. During this period (1978-1990), I had been in a battle to the death with malignant lymphoma. It appears that I won, a getting a new lease on life, so I decided to forgo the research vessels and to open my own field station on Bimini to conduct shark research on my own time. I thought I wouldn't have to beg for grants or funding if I could just get barely enough to run the station. But eventually, funding came, and I received grants from the Office of Naval Research National Science Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation National Sea Grant and the Florida State Department of Education. However the events of 9/11 overtook our funding so that today we rely on the generous patrons and philanthropic private donors. Thanks to these generous people we are able to keep the Shark Lab afloat and the worthy graduate students who train and study the endangered lemon sharks in the clear waters of the Bahamas.

Steve Kessel - Middlesex, UK
     Steve was born in a traveling circus just outside of New Guinea. His life as a carnie was short-lived, as a strong dislike for small hands forced him to run away at the age of 3. By the time Steve was four, he had slipped into alcoholism. One rainy night back in May, 1985, Steve went on a serious bender and woke up in November, 2002, on the doorstep of the Sharklab, with no memory of the time between. After 7 months at the lab, Steve had decided that his favorite shark is definitely the loan shark, as none of the others can feed his gambling addiction.

Tarra Cooper - Miami, FL, USA
     I am going into my fourth and final year at Florida Tech for marine biology. Obviously, I really like sharks, which is why I'm in lovely bug-infested Bimini for the summer. This place is beautiful, and I encourage everyone to take a trip to this tiny island. Although it's only 50 miles from home, I feel like I'm in a world away. So to everyone at home, I love you, I miss you, and thank you for helping me to get where I am today.

Teabag - Bimini, Bahamas
     Missing: scrawny dog with huge head and bright red lipstick.