Mystic Aquarium

Dr. Robert Ballard champions technology, education and the human story in every mission he ventures. His entwined history with Titanic is a perfect example.

Seeking to improve his ability to study undersea mountains in the early 1980s, Dr. Ballard, an ardent geologist, developed the ARGO-Jason remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system to locate and videotape underwater objects. Titanic, the ultimate deep water test site, beckoned. But what began as a challenge to test ARGO evolved into passion for the ship itself through the mentorship of Bill Tantum, founder of the Titanic Historical Society. While researching and discussing Titanic, the story of the ship, the people and the tragedy touched Dr. Ballard’s soul and “blew me right over…it was a complete surprise.”

Meanwhile, funding ARGO’s testing was another challenge. As a commanding officer in the Naval Reserve, Dr. Ballard turned to the U. S. Navy. In exchange for financial support and time to look for Titanic, he was commissioned in the summer of 1985 with a secret mission to explore two Navy nuclear submarines that went down in the 1960s in search of their nuclear reactors and weapons systems, one off the coast of Massachusetts, the other in the Azores.

ARGO proved successful and, mission accomplished, Dr. Ballard sped to the Grand Banks to search for Titanic. Though he had only 12 days to find the ship, Dr. Ballard had made an important discovery while documenting the two submarines—in both cases the downed subs left a long debris trail. Dr. Ballard calculated that if he could find Titanic’s debris trail, it would lead him to the ship.

Narrowing his search to 50 square miles, he ordered ARGO to make sweeps one mile apart. Nine days flew by and hopes were dimming. Then, at 12:48 a.m. on September 1, 1985, ARGO’s operator spotted debris. Dr. Ballard raced to the control room and entered just as ARGO glided over one of Titanic’s 29 boilers. Excitement exploded in the room. “I’ll never forget seeing Titanic for the first time in the pitch black,” he recalled. “You don’t see it until the last moment, as if someone pulled back the curtain, and out it comes from this black velvet void of nothingness.”

To his astonishment, 16,000 letters from eager youngsters asking to join his next expedition awaited his return. Moved by their eagerness, Dr. Ballard founded The JASON Project, a nationally acclaimed, exploration-based program that links students to real science and scientists through technology intensive, inquiry-based curricula. Named for the mythological Greek hero Jason, who traveled the far reaches of the ancient world in his ship Argo, JASON offers students unparalleled opportunities to explore the world beyond their classroom.

In 2002, Dr. Ballard and Dr. Stephen M. Coan, president & CEO of Sea Research Foundation, founded Immersion Learning, a nonprofit science education organization that brings ocean adventures, learning and real-life discoveries to kids in classrooms and after-school settings. Together JASON and Immersion reach millions of aspiring young scientists nationwide and around the world.

Since Titanic’s discovery, many breakthrough technological advances have occurred. For instance, instead of the black and white images transmitted by ARGO, by 2004 Dr. Ballard was using fiber-optic cable to transmit beautiful high definition color images of Titanic using his new ROV Hercules.

The advent of Internet2 (a private 100 Gbps network open only to educators and researchers, which supports development of revolutionary internet technologies) has enabled today’s telepresence technology, giving Dr. Ballard’s education efforts an unprecedented boost. Through nautiluslive.org and the Nautilus Live Theater housed at Mystic Aquarium, researchers, students and devotees of all ages can follow the course of Dr. Ballard’s ship, E/V Nautilus, as it searches for natural deep water phenomena and remnants of human history. Participants are able to witness—live—discoveries as they are revealed. Educators aboard facilitate a constant flow of information and questions to and from followers, while high school and post-graduate students hone their skills and career paths working alongside top scientists.

The new Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below exhibit, created by Dr. Ballard and long-time friend and colleague Tim Delaney, a former Walt Disney Imagineer, showcases the technology that made the ship’s discovery and continued research possible. Infused with world class creativity, the exhibit also provides ample, interactive learning and self-discovery opportunities as guests journey through Titanic’s story.

Unlike any other Titanic exhibit in the world, only in Mystic, Conn., can one fully comprehend and appreciate the spectacular, emotional moment of the luxury liner’s discovery. Born, too, at that moment was Dr. Ballard’s quest to protect Titanic’s sacred resting ground from unethical interests, and the new exhibit underscores this personal code. Advanced technology inspires new endeavors, robust education opportunities spark the passion of future scientists, and compelling human stories spur mindful affirmation of the human spirit. In sum, respect, conservation and preservation comprise the foundation of Dr. Ballard’s life’s work.

“My love of the undersea world and desire to share that love with everyone in a way that would not destroy the very thing we loved is at the heart of all my missions. And why not take people who will never go themselves to this world? Through telepresence and Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below we let them see deep-sea wonders, help them to understand, and together we can protect this precious resource for future generations.”