Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Ocean explorer and University of Rhode Island Oceanography Professor Bob Ballard has been given the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation in Washington, D.C.

"Bob Ballard is an American treasure and one of the leading ocean advocates of our generation," said Joy Williams, acting president and CEO of the organization. "He is also one of the founding trustees of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation."

Ballard is best known for finding the remains of the Titanic in 1985. He also has explored the wreck of the German battleship Bismarck, the lost fleet at Guadacanal, the American aircraft carrier Yorktown and John F. Kennedy's PT 109.

Ballard earned a Ph.D. in marine geology and geophysics at URI and spent 30 years at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution before returning to URI. He also holds 21 honorary doctorate degrees and the title "explorer in residence" at the National Geographic Society. He was given his award Tuesday in conjunction with the 2009 Capitol Hill Ocean's Week, a three day symposium for ocean policy experts.

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