 Nearly 20 years ago, Dr. Robert D. Ballard ushered in a new era of exploration by reaching into the depths of the ocean with innovative technologies and finding the wreck of the Titanic.
This sensational discovery fueled a string of notable finds–from the Bismarck to underwater World War II graveyards in the Pacific to John F. Kennedy’s PT-109– and it propelled Ballard into the role of celebrity scientist.
Six decades earlier, Roy Chapman Andrews gained comparable fame for a series of paleontological finds–including the first complete nests of dinosaur eggs–that he recovered from the unknown reaches of Mongolia. Andrews was well-decorated for his successes, earning, among other awards, a coveted Hubbard Medal from the National Geographic Society. That same honor, among many others, would be bestowed generations later on Ballard, as well.
In February 2005 the paths of these two scientists crossed when Ballard visited Andrews’s hometown and alma mater to receive the Roy Chapman Andrews Society Distinguished Explorer Award. This award honors Andrews’s legacy by recognizing the accomplishments of today’s scientific explorers. Recipients earn a commemorative bronze statue created by O.V. Shaffer as well as a $5,000 cash prize.
 Ballard received the award in a special ceremony on Friday, February 25.
He presented an illustrated acceptance lecture about his exploring career as part of the program.
The ceremony filled Eaton Chapel on the College Campus, and every attendee was captivated by Ballard's eloquent speech, but more importantly his amazing discoveries over the years.
 Ballard signed copies of his books following the ceremony, and he was the guest of honor later that evening at a celebratory dinner with members of the Society and other interested guests.
The Distinguished Explorer Award program is a principal focus of the Roy Chapman Andrews Society. Founded in 1998, the Society's mission is to honor the legacy of one of the most celebrated explorers of the 20th century by educating the public about Andrews's life, work, and adventures; promoting the value of scientific exploration and discovery; and emphasizing Andrews's lifetime ties to Beloit. Award recipients are:
- Dr. Michael J. Novacek, leader of the first Western expedition to the Gobi Desert since Andrews' discovery of the first dinosaur egg fossil there in 1922
- Dr. Mark Plotkin, ethnobotanist and bio-prospector for new medicines developed from the plants and practices of traditional healers of the Amazon jungle
- Dr. Robert Ballard, discoverer of the RMS Titanic and founder of the Jason Project, an educational tool enabling students to watch live transmissions from underwater robot explorers
- Dr. Steve Squyres, principal investigator for the Mars Exploration Rover mission whose presentations included live, televised transmissions from Mars
- Drs. Lonnie and Ellen Mosley-Thompson, scientific "ice hunters" who examine the climate and environmental history of the Earth through the analysis of glacial core samples
- Dr. Mark W. Moffett, a real-life adventurer with awards for writing and photography
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Dr. Ballard is an
Explorer-in-Residence
for the National
Geographic Society
and a commissioner on
the U.S. Commission
on Ocean Policy.
Ballard is also the
founder of the JASON
Project. JASON was
established in 1989
after Ballard received
thousands of letters
from school children
wanting to know how he
discovered the RMS Titanic.
CLICK HERE to learn about the award's selection criteria.
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