Duran Mitchell

Born and raised in the beautiful islands of The Bahamas, Duran lives on New Providence and has spent many summers in Mayaguana where his family is from. He traveled to several of the family islands at a very young age where he developed a love for the intrinsic beauty of each island and their marine life . To pursue his career path in Marine Conservation he is now a student at the University of the Bahamas obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Small Island Sustainability: Marine Science.

‍Before joining the Coral Response Team at the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS), Duran worked in the field as a research assistant on two separate projects on the islands of Andros and Abaco. He also interned as an environmental educator at a field station on Andros, and also had a full time job as husbandry aquarists. These experiences opened his eyes to damage being done to our marine life through anthropogenic and natural causes. Being a good steward of the environment, Duran decided to become a part of the solution and help save our oceans however he can.

‍By joining the Coral Response Team at PIMS, Duran hopes to make a difference by saving our reefs from the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) that is destroying corals at a rapid rate. Duran believes that saving our reefs is crucial not just for the survival of the species but for the survival of our world.