Titanic Founder to Speak to Scottsdale Area Youth

Dr. Robert Ballard to introduce children to scientific discoveries and technologies occurring around the world

Scottsdale, AZ – On Thursday, January 15, one of the world’s foremost oceanographers and Titanic discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard will make a couple special appearances in Scottsdale to speak to local youth about ongoing scientific expeditions and the positive role science and technology play in their everyday lives.  Through speaking engagements and the development of specialized curriculum and technology programs, Dr. Ballard’s goal is to ignite children’s interest in real discovery and learning.

Dr. Ballard has for many years used submersibles to explore the hidden features of the deep ocean.  He is recognized as one of the premier spokesperson for marine research. For the past 20 years he has participated in numerous educational programs with PBS, National Geographic, NOVA, among others television networks around the world.  In the 1990s, Dr. Ballard founded the Institute for Exploration in Mystic, CT, which specializes in deep-sea archaeology and deep-sea geology.

In 2002, Dr. Ballard co-founded Immersion Presents, a non-profit science education organization that brings ocean adventures and discoveries from Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, the University of Rhode Island and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration to kids in classrooms, informal learning arenas, and after-school settings like at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale.

9:00 am        Yavapai Elementary School, 701 N. Miller Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 (cafeteria). Phone: 480-484-3800

Dr. Ballard will speak to more then 200 fifth and sixth graders at the Scottsdale Title 1 School.  Title 1 is the largest federally funded educational program in the United States. Authorized by Congress, it provides supplemental funds to school districts to assist eligible public and private schools with the highest student concentration of at-risk or poverty to meet school educational goals.  Students at the school have been learning about Dr. Ballard’s discovery through curriculum entitled Titanic Live! developed by the explorer. Now, children will be able to meet Dr. Ballard and asked questions about his experiences on the high seas.

3:30 pm        Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale Virginia G. Piper Branch. 10515 E. Lakeview Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85258. Phoene: 480-860-1601.

Dr. Ballard will meet Club members who have participated in Immersion Presents, which provides youth with fun and engaging multi-media programs based on underwater expeditions. Participants are able to interact with researchers directly during their at sea expeditions via live broadcasts.  This allows youth to experience scientific discovery as it is happening and gives them a deeper understanding of how scientific research and exploration contribute to conservation and management of ocean resources.

About The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale
Since 1954, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale has provided more than 100,000 Northeast Valley youth with a positive, supervised environment to explore the power of their potential. Today we serve 15,000 children and teen through the organization’s nine branches and 12 outreach sites located in Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Hualapai Indian Community and other Northeast Valley neighborhoods. The Club offers more than 100 youth development programs emphasizing five core areas: the arts; character & leadership development; education & career development; health & life skills; and sports, fitness & recreation. To help support mentoring opportunities at the Club please visit http://www.bgcs.org

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