Dr. Robert Ballard
Explorer
Dr. Robert Ballard
Explorer
University of Rhode Island
(Profile Created December, 2005)
This profile has the following content:
1. Video Profiles
2. Biography
3. Career Timeline
4. Related Ocean Explorer Content
5. Print and Web Resources
Meet Dr. Robert Ballard (Quicktime, 2.4 Mb)Meet Dr. Robert Ballard, find out how he wears four hats and why he feels his mission in life is truly the most compelling aspect of his various jobs.
The Challenges of Exploration (Quicktime, 4.7 Mb)Dr. Ballard discusses the challenges of just getting an opportunity to go to sea and how the development of telepresence enhanced his latest expedition to the Lost City Hydrothermal Field.
So What is Telepresence (Quicktime, 7.5 Mb)Dr. Ballard further discusses the development of telepresence and how it will change ocean exploration, as we know it.
Beyond The ROV's and Telepresence (Quicktime, 10.3 Mb)Dr. Ballard discusses the technology behind the scenes and why it is essential to uses high definition (HD) video on both the Hercules ROV and Argus observation sled.
Closing Remarks (Quicktime,
4.7 Mb)Dr. Ballard talks about what he likes most about life at sea and what it takes to follow your dream.
Biography
What is your actual title?
Oceanographer
Where do you work?
I work at the University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography 
.
What sparked your initial interest in the marine world?
Growing up in Southern California, spending a summer working at Scripps, and going to graduate school at the University of Hawaii gave me a good perspective on the vastness of the world oceans. I was fascinated and wanted to explore that secret world.
I was heavily influenced by books, movies, and TV programs about the undersea world including "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" , "Sea Hunter", and the "Underwater World of Jacques Cousteau". I graduated from a passive interest in the underwater world, to an active interest when I learned how to SCUBA dive. That was when I saw the true beauty of this hidden world. As time went on, I graduated from SCUBA diving to deep diving submersibles, reaching depths of 20,000 feet. At first, I thought the only way to appreciate the underwater world was to "physically" descend beneath the waves and "see" it first hand. But few people have this opportunity and even those who can, the journey is long, frustrating, and very expensive for what little time you can spend there. Then I began to develop deep sea robots to take me. What are called Remotely Operated Vehicles or ROVs. At first, they were primitive, vehicles like ARGO that I used to discover TITANIC and BISMARCK. Their cameras were black and white and in no way equaled the experience of looking out of the view port of my submersible. But then in the early 1980's there was a series of technological breakthroughs that would change everything, the first of which was fiber-optic cable. Instead of using copper cables through which I was transmitting my black and white images of the TITANIC using ARGO in 1985, I could now use fiber-optic cable to transmit beautiful high definition color images of TITANIC using my new ROV HERCULES in 2004. Another breakthrough was the recent development of Internet2, the new SUPER information highway. Then the bulb in my head went off. Why not bring all of this together. My love of the undersea world and a desire to share that love with everyone in a way that would not destroy the very thing we loved. Why not take people who will never go themselves to this world and let them see why these wonders of the underwater world and help protect them for future generations.Who influenced you or encouraged you the most?
My father, Chet Ballard
Do you travel often?
Yes
What are the educational requirements for your job?
Having a bachelors of science, a masters of science and doctorate degrees
What is the salary range?
Senior oceanographers make between $100,000 and $150,000 a year as full professors.
How many hours do you work per week?
I work approximately 60 hours a week
Tell us more about your research and the types of things you do.
Developing a new graduate program in archaeological oceanography at the University of Rhode Island and working with the first group of graduate students, our continuing research in the Black Sea, improving our telepresence program via the Immersion Institute and looking forward to NOAA's new ship of exploration, the Okeanos Explorer, coming on-line, too many things to list.
What is the most fascinating thing you have ever seen or done?
I think the most fascinating thing I ever saw were the creatures living in and around deep-sea vents.
What are the personal rewards of your work?
That you can excite and motivate young people to become life long learners of science and technology.
How does your work benefit the public?
Greater understanding of the world around us, awareness of conservation issues; increasing our use of advanced technology.
What else could someone with your background do?
Teach, lecture, and conduct expeditions
Looking back, was there anything you would have done differently in your education or career journey?
I might have taken more courses in the humanities.
What obstacles did you encounter along the way?
My biggest obstacles have been people who are threatened by my accomplishments as well as those who lack vision.
What are your hobbies?
Fishing, horseback riding
Beginning of Interest in Marine Sciences:
Growing up in Southern California I enjoyed playing in the tide pools along Mission Bay.
Degrees:
1965 - B.S. Pysical Sciences- University of California, Santa Barbara
1974 - PhD in Marine Geology and Geophysics- University of Rhode
Island's Graduate School in Oceanography
First Career-related Job:
Working at Ocean Systems Group
Employment Journey/Career Transitions:
Woods Hole Oceanograhic Institution:
1969-1974 - Research Associate, Ocean
Engineering Department
1974-1976 - Assistant Scientist, Geology and Geophysics Department
1976-1978 - Associate Scientist, Geology and Geophysics Department
1978-1979 - Associate Scientist, Ocean Engineering Department
1980-1983 - Associate Scientist, Ocean Engineering Department (Tenured)
1983-present - Senior Scientist, Department of Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering
(Tenured)
1983-present - Founder, Deep Submergence Laboratory
1989-1995 - Director, Center for Marine Exploration
1979-present - Scientist Emeritus
University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography:
2002-present
- Professor of Oceanography (Tenured)
2002-present - Director and Founder, Institute for Archaeological Oceanography
University of California, Santa Barbara:
2003-present - Adjunct Professor,
Department of Geology
Stanford University:
1979-1980 - Visiting Scholar, Stanford University
Geology Department
1980-1981 - Consulting Professor, Stanford University Geology Department
Institute for Exploration:
1995-present - President and Founder
Other Accomplishments:
Honorary Doctoral Degrees:
1986 - Clark University
1986 - University of Rhode Island
1986 - Southeastern Massachusetts University
1987 - Long Island University, Southampton
1988 - University of Bath, England
1990 - Tufts University
1991 - Lenoir-Rhyne College
1992 - Skidmore College
1992 - Worcester Polytechnic Institute
1993 - Bridgewater State College
1993 - Lehigh University
1994 - Maine Maritime Academy
1994 - Massachusetts Maritime Academy
2000 - University of Wisconsin
2001 - University of Hartford
2001 - University of Delaware
Related Ocean Explorer Content
This section points to other areas on this Web offering that relate to this career.
Print and Web Resources
Online and offline books, magazines and articles related to this career.
MarineCareers.net
This site, sponsored by NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program, introduces a wide range of marine career fields and people working in those fields. Professionals describe what they like and dislike about their careers, what they see for the future in their fields, and much more. The site also provides salary and other pertinent career information.
