Bob Ballard

National Geographic Explorer-at-Large Bob Ballard is best known for his historic discoveries of hydrothermal vents, the sunken R.M.S. Titanic, the German battleship Bismarck, President Kennedy’s PT-109, and numerous other contemporary and ancient shipwrecks around the world. During his long career, he has conducted more than 150 deep-sea expeditions using the latest in exploration technology. Bob also spends a great deal of his time involved in various educational outreach programs. In 2008 he secured the E/V Nautilus, which has become his flagship for exploration. He has received prestigious awards from the Explorers Club and the National Geographic Society—the Explorers Medal and the Hubbard Medal, respectively—as well as the Lindbergh Award from the Lindbergh Foundation. In 2003 President George W. Bush presented him with the National Endowment for the Humanities Medal in the Oval Office. Bob has co-produced more than 35 television specials, many with National Geographic, and is the author of best-selling books and numerous National Geographic magazine articles. In addition to his Ph.D. in marine geology and geophysics, he has received more than 20 honorary doctorates and is a recipient of the Newcomb Cleveland Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science for the best paper of the year in the prestigious journal Science.