Bob Ballard: An Explorer's Life | Extended

Earned undergraduate degrees in chemistry and geology from the University of California, Santa Barbara .

Born in Wichita, Kansas in 1942, Ballard’s path to the deep sea began in San Diego. His fascination with the ocean was ignited at age 12 by the Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea . He grew up dreaming of being Captain Nemo, a goal he pursued through a unique combination of military service and high-level science. Bob Ballard: An Explorer's Life

Today, Ballard remains active through the and his flagship, the E/V Nautilus . His mission has pivoted from discovery to inspiration. Through Nautilus Live , students and the public can watch real-time deep-sea exploration and interact with scientists from around the globe. Earned undergraduate degrees in chemistry and geology from

In 1985, Ballard made his most famous discovery: the wreckage of the . However, the mission itself was actually a top-secret Navy project to survey two lost nuclear submarines, the USS Thresher and USS Scorpion . Only after completing the military objective was Ballard permitted to use the remaining time to search for the famous liner. He grew up dreaming of being Captain Nemo,

"I am an explorer and mapmaker," Ballard says, continuing to push the boundaries of what is known about the 70% of our planet that lies underwater.