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NABP's 97th Annual Meeting to Feature Renowned Oceanographer Dr Robert D. Ballard as Keynote Speaker
NABP's 97th Annual Meeting to Feature Renowned Oceanographer
Dr Robert D. Ballard as Keynote Speaker
The Titanic, the Lusitania, the Yorktown, the Andrea Doria, and the Bismarck have at least one thing in common: they all have been located by one of the world's leading oceanographers, Dr Robert D. Ballard. Dr Ballard will discuss his many underwater adventures when he delivers his keynote address at the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy's (NABP) 97th Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 6, in Seattle, Wash.
Ballard, a researcher at Massachusetts' Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) for 29 years, has led or participated in more than 110 underwater expeditions. In addition to discovering history's most legendary shipwrecks, these expeditions included the first manned exploration of the Mid-Ocean Ridge, the discovery of exotic animal communities in the Galapagos Rift, and the identification of "black smokers" (superheated vents laden with mineral deposits).
Ballard earned his PhD in marine geophysics from the University of Rhode Island, conducting research at WHOI when the theory of plate tectonics was still controversial. He was an early proponent of utilizing submersibles to do the fieldwork that would confirm the theory. Dr Ballard is the founder of the JASON Foundation for Education, a hands-on, interactive science education program that allows children from around the world to experience the excitement of live exploration. The project's centerpiece is the remotely operated vehicle called Jason. Equipped with television cameras, floodlights, and a sample retrieving mechanism, Jason's signals are broadcast via satellite to students in museums and school auditoriums.
During the past few years, Ballard's interests have turned to ancient maritime history. His most recent discovery is the largest number of Roman ships ever found in the Mediterranean Sea. The Sea Research Foundation's Institute for Exploration, of which Ballard is president, will train others in deep-water archaeology, the study of ancient artifacts on ocean floors. According to Ballard, our civilization is presently in the Lewis and Clark stage of oceanic exploration, and he compares examining the deep sea with walking on the moon.
Ballard has hosted several National Geographic specials. In fact, National Geographic presented him with the Hubbard Medal, its highest award. Previous recipients of this award include Charles Lindbergh and Neil Armstrong. He has served as a special advisor on Steven Spielberg's futuristic Sea Quest television program and has authored several books, including Exploring Our Planet, The Discovery of the Titanic, and The Discovery of the Bismarck. Dr Ballard's books on both the Titanic and the Bismarck reached number one on the New York Times and the London Times bestseller lists.
For more information regarding the 97th Annual Meeting, please contact the NABP meetings desk at 847/698-6227.
NABP is the independent, international, and impartial Association that assists its member boards and jurisdictions in developing, implementing, and enforcing uniform standards for the purpose of protecting the public health.
Jan Teplitz
