Robert Ballard

explorer · ocean · shipwrecks · archaeology

Found the Titanic. In 1985, Robert Ballard discovered the wreck of the RMS Titanic, the famous passenger ship that sank in 1912. His discovery let scientists and historians study the ship up close for the first time.

Uses underwater robots. Ballard explores the deep ocean using special robotic cameras and vehicles that can go where people cannot. These robots send back pictures and information from thousands of feet below the surface.

Naval officer turned explorer. Ballard was a Navy officer before becoming an oceanographer and professor at the University of Rhode Island. He combined his military training with his love of the ocean to become one of the world's greatest underwater explorers.

Found many wrecks. Besides the Titanic, Ballard discovered the German battleship Bismarck, the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, and President John F. Kennedy's PT-109 boat. Each discovery revealed history that had been hidden underwater for decades.

Underwater archaeologist. Ballard studies shipwrecks and sunken cities like ancient civilizations underwater to learn about human history. His work combines geology, archaeology, and ocean science all together.