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Contact: Erin Merz
Sea Research Foundation
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Joan Brower
The Dilenschneider Group
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TITANIC – 12,450 FEET BELOW OPENS APRIL 12 AT MYSTIC AQUARIUM
Titanic Discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard and Former Disney Imagineer Tim Delaney
Behind Major Titanic Commemorative Installation at Mystic Aquarium
MYSTIC, Conn. (April 11, 2012) – Beckoning guests to “journey to new depths of discovery,” Sea Research Foundation,
operator of Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Conn., today previewed its new multi-million dollar exhibit -- Titanic – 12,450 Feet
Below -- located at Mystic Aquarium’s newly renamed Ocean Exploration Center exhibit hall. As a commemoration of the
100th anniversary of the ship’s tragic voyage, Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy proclaimed April 11, 2012, as Titanic
Memorial Day in the State of Connecticut.
The new exhibit, opening to the public on April 12, is the product of a very special collaboration between famed
oceanographic explorer Dr. Robert Ballard, president of Sea Research Foundation’s Institute for Exploration, who led the 1985
expedition that first located and mapped the sunken Titanic, and Tim Delaney, the former senior Walt Disney Imagineering
designer. Now head of Tim J. Delaney Design, he has collaborated with Dr. Ballard on several projects over the past 30 years.
The Ocean Exploration Center renovation and its inaugural Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below exhibit are presented by United
Technologies Corporation.
Sea Research Foundation President & CEO Dr. Stephen M. Coan has called the renamed Ocean Exploration Center and
centenary Titanic exhibit “A unique and important collaboration that will give people a chance to experience Titanic through
the eyes of the person who found her, someone recognized as one of the world’s greatest explorers, and through the
imagination of a world-renowned exhibit designer. We believe that the Ballard and Delaney team, with the support of one of
America’s greatest companies, under the aegis of an organization dedicated to protecting our oceans through research,
education and exploration, is an unbeatable formula for public enrichment and inspiration.”
Tim Delaney described the exhibit that he and his team are building as “a very different approach to the Titanic experience,
one that taps directly into the excitement of exploration and discovery. Our Titanic exhibit is awe-inspiring and emotional. It is
designed to capture the moment of discovery that only access to the actual discoverer’s insight and vision can deliver.
Working hand-in-glove with Bob Ballard and Sea Research has enabled us to create something that both adults and children
will find thrilling, immersive, interactive, experiential and memorable. Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below takes you there.”
Bringing the legendary vessel’s timeless history to life, Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below captivates minds with a glowing iceberg
that is cold to the touch, a bi-level adventure area inspired by Titanic’s engine room, hands-on experiences that unfold
Titanic’s lingering mysteries, and modern deep-sea technology that led to Titanic’s eventual discovery.
When Dr. Ballard became the first person in 73 years to lay eyes on the deep-sea wreck of the Titanic, his identification with
the discovery was sealed forever. While mountains of historical, technical and testimonial documentation abound, Dr. Ballard
has always been the indisputable constant in Titanic’s rediscovery—and the redoubling of interest in its story as the centenary
date approaches. With Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below, Dr. Ballard and Delaney offer the public a fresh view into the mystery,
science and fascination of Titanic.
“The Titanic sinking is, of course, one of the greatest dramas of the last century,” said Dr. Ballard. “Everything about her
conception, construction, launch, passage, passengers, loss and legend is fascinating and mind-boggling. Our goal with this
new exhibit has been to draw visitors into the wonder of discovery by exposing them to natural phenomena such as icebergs,
hydrodynamics, navigation, deep-sea exploration, and to present them with challenges, options and insights for interpreting
the story on their own. At Sea Research, we follow the mantra of learning by doing, and this new exhibit is designed to do just
that. I believe that the excitement of discovery is transferrable and can inspire future generations of explorers, discoverers
and innovators. That’s what Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below is all about.”
Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below, opening to the public on April 12, is located at Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Conn. Exhibit
admission is included with the aquarium general admission prices and membership.
About Sea Research Foundation
Based in Mystic, Conn., Sea Research Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that operates Mystic Aquarium, Institute
for Exploration and, in partnership with National Geographic Society, The JASON Project and its Immersion Learning program.
The mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and
exploration. Sea Research receives major support from United Technologies Corp., The Coca-Cola Company and Foxwoods
Resort Casino. For more information, visit searesearch.org.
Exhibit Overview
Send your heart and imagination on a sensational journey of human courage, despair and ingenuity. Step back in time and be
part of the story, a legend 100 years in the making.
Sea Research Foundation’s Dr. Robert Ballard, the renowned oceanographer who discovered Titanic, and Tim Delaney, a
former Walt Disney Imagineer, bring Titanic’s timeless history to life. Unlike traditional Titanic artifact* exhibits, Titanic –
12,450 Feet Below has captivating imagery, breathtaking recreations, emotional soundscapes, hands-on activities and lively
entertainment that transport you to the moment and illuminate your course for exploration and discovery.
Located at Mystic Aquarium in the newly renamed Ocean Exploration Center, Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below occupies 8,000
square feet and promises excitement, learning and fun for kids, teens and adults.
Exhilaration raced the world over as Titanic prepared for her first voyage. Fanfare and festive music set the stage as you
examine Titanic’s construction, admire her luxury and wonder at the marvels of ultra-modern technology, circa 1912.
Man’s achievements and presumptions are nothing compared to the ocean’s boundless power. A glowing iceberg that is
cold to the touch lures you on as somber notes and Morse code from distant ships, warning of ice in the water, sound the
coming tragedy. Here you can dive deep into the nature of icebergs, facts of the tragedy and the lingering mysteries still
shrouding Titanic’s fateful night.
The unthinkable occurs—Titanic is lost. A cascade of headlines and watery images take you to the moment of sinking. Over
1,500 lives were lost on April 14, 1912, and 73 years would pass before anyone set eyes on Titanic again.
“Never give up” was Dr. Ballard’s team mantra, and their perseverance paid off. Now you’re 12,450 feet below the icy
North Atlantic’s surface, immersed in the cool blue tones of a deep-sea world. As Titanic’s hull lies in the watery distance, with
a submersible ROV floating overhead, you can soak up the images, recreated relics, secret documents, rare videos, interviews
and more that reveal the hallowed grounds of Titanic’s resting place and remarkable tale of her discovery—as seen through
the eyes of the crew that found her.
Young explorers need time and space to hone their creativity. In a bi-level adventure area inspired by Titanic’s engine room,
kids can chart their own course for exploration and let their imaginations run wild with speaking tubes, wheels, gadgets and
horns in a playful place designed for family enjoyment.
The spirit of discovery is yours to share. Suspense and emotion intensify leading up to “The Moment” of Titanic’s historical
discovery. Watch events unfold in this original HD film, in the comfort of the Discovery Theater, and come face to face with Dr.
Ballard, the ingenious explorer who found Titanic and galvanized the creation of Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below.
Remember the journeys of those who survived and those whose journeys ended. Although Titanic’s story has been played
out in film, television and literature, the tragedy was real. Families, newlyweds and adventurers—rich and poor alike—all
boarded in 1912, each with their own dream of exploration and discovery. Before you go, spend some time in this special
gallery and get acquainted with Titanic’s unforgettable passengers.
*Dr. Ballard does not collect artifacts from Titanic in an effort to protect her sacred resting ground. Titanic – 12,450 Feet
Below does not contain any actual artifacts, only recreations.
Digital Elements in Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below
Iceberg Encounter Kiosks
Guests learn some chilling details about Titanic’s ultimate downfall at the
Iceberg Kiosks. Videos of Dr. Ballard explain how icebergs are born, and
how best to avoid them (don’t ignore iceberg warnings!). Iceberg Facts
informs guests about these icy behemoths, while Warning allows them to
decode the several iceberg warning messages Titanic received on her last
day afloat. Titanic’s Course charts the path the great ship took, and gives a
timeline of events leading up to the tragedy. Lastly, the Iceberg Quiz tests
individual guests on their knowledge of these natural wonders—and of
Titanic’s encounter with one—and tallies the final score.
The Sinking of Titanic Wall
Leaving the Iceberg Encounter, guests are drawn to the sinking of Titanic though a projected graphic representation of the
ship sinking, illustrating key moments in the ship’s breakup and trajectory toward the ocean floor below. Watery, eerie
headlines from papers around the world project on the wall.
Interactive Fish & Titanic Video Footage Wall
Framed by Titanic-themed wreckage, a large scale interactive video projects a montage of Titanic video footage captured by
Dr. Robert Ballard and his team from 12,450 feet below. The wall switches to become an interactive fish wall with sea
creatures and unique fish found on the ocean floor. Kids and adults interact with the projected fish, causing them to swim
closer or retreat.
Wreck Site Kiosk
Guests can discover more about Titanic’s final resting ground at the Wreck
Site Kiosks. Videos of Dr. Ballard and of the wreck site itself provide
fascinating insight into the Titanic’s discovery, and her current state at the
bottom of the ocean. Titanic Facts and Titanic by Numbers allow guests
to uncover details about the voyage and discovery in a beautiful and
unique way. Lastly, the Wreck Site Quiz tests individual guests on their
knowledge of the great ship and tallies the final score.
Discovery Theater
In the Discovery Theater, guest experience the original video presentation, “The Moment,” a widescreen video presentation
that explores the emotions and meaning behind the discovery of Titanic.
Digital Elements in Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below
Exploration Centers
Guests can access a veritable treasure trove of information at the two Exploration Centers, the central technology feature in
the exhibit. Allowing guests of all ages and interests to freely experience on their own or with a group, these high-tech tables
feature the latest in multi-touch and object-recognition technology, and evoke the magic of adventure and discovery that Dr.
Ballard’s expedition embodied. Each Exploration Center offers five separate, hands-on, rich experiences that educate,
entertain and inspire:
Dr. Ballard’s Archive
Guests sift through never-before-released documents, letters, photos and articles selected
by Dr. Ballard for this exhibit. Filled with personal insight, the virtual archives provide a peek
into the story, politics and challenges that accompanied the discovery. An interactive
glossary is nearby for those interested in delving deeper into the files.
Titanic Fact Check Quiz
Guest can compete with up to three friends to test whose Titanic knowledge ranks supreme.
Contestants each place their “activator” on the screen, which generates a color-coded quiz
console for play. For each round, question and answer cards are dealt out to the players,
who then select their answers on their console. The quickest correct answer gets the most
points, so answer fast to win!
12,450 Feet Below Challenge
Guests are challenged to find Titanic artifacts at the bottom of the ocean. Up to four
explorers work together as a team to locate five specific artifacts from the debris field. Using
their activators as undersea remote viewers, the team can trawl the seabed looking for
clues, just as the team aboard the Knorr did in 1985. When an object is identified inside one
of the viewers, the team member can focus in on it for a better view, and then take a photo
for posterity.
Photo and Video Archive
Guests can explore a wealth of photos and video footage of the current state of Titanic, as
filmed in 2004 by Dr. Ballard. These high-definition files can be manipulated and enlarged to
see fantastic detail of the underwater wreck. The archive contains over 300 separate image
and video files, so whether guests are interested in the artifacts, the technology used to find
and film them, or the wreck of the ship itself, there is plenty to explore.
Titanic Deck Plan Viewer
This experience allows guests to view original deck plans of Titanic as she sailed. Guests flip
through the various decks to learn about the varying levels of accommodation available for
the different classes and crew, how the boilers and bulkheads were arranged, and even
where the potatoes were stored. The activator also serves as a magnifying glass, allowing
guests to zoom in for greater detail.
Discovering Titanic: The Inside View
A fountain of knowledge, energy and goodwill, Dr. Robert Ballard champions technology, education and the human story in every
mission he ventures. His entwined history with RMS Titanic is a perfect example.
Seeking to improve his ability to study undersea mountains in the early 1980s, Dr. Ballard, an ardent geologist, developed the ARGOJason remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system to locate and videotape underwater objects. Titanic, the ultimate deep water test
site, beckoned. But what began as a challenge to test ARGO evolved into passion for the ship itself through the mentorship of Bill
Tantum, founder of the Titanic Historical Society. While researching and discussing Titanic, the story of the ship, the people and the
tragedy touched Dr. Ballard’s soul and “blew me right over…it was a complete surprise.”
Meanwhile, funding ARGO’s testing was another challenge. As a commanding officer in the Naval Reserve, Dr. Ballard turned to the
U. S. Navy. In exchange for financial support and time to look for Titanic, he was commissioned in the summer of 1985 with a secret
mission to explore two Navy nuclear submarines that went down in the 1960s in search of their nuclear reactors and weapons
systems, one off the coast of Massachusetts, the other in the Azores.
ARGO proved successful and, mission accomplished, Dr. Ballard sped to the Grand Banks to search for Titanic. Though he had only 12
days to find the ship, Dr. Ballard had made an important discovery while documenting the two submarines—in both cases the
downed subs left a long debris trail. Dr. Ballard calculated that if he could find Titanic’s debris trail, it would lead him to the ship.
Narrowing his search to 50 square miles, he ordered ARGO to make sweeps one mile apart. Nine days flew by and hopes were
dimming. Then, at 12:48 a.m. on September 1, 1985, ARGO’s operator spotted debris. Dr. Ballard raced to the control room and
entered just as ARGO glided over one of Titanic’s 29 boilers. Excitement exploded in the room. “I’ll never forget seeing Titanic for the
first time in the pitch black,” he recalled. “You don’t see it until the last moment, as if someone pulled back the curtain, and out it
comes from this black velvet void of nothingness.”
Titanic as an education engine: The JASON Project, Immersion Learning , Nautilus Live and Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below
To his astonishment, 16,000 letters from eager youngsters asking to join his next expedition awaited his return. Moved by their
eagerness, Dr. Ballard founded The JASON Project, a nationally acclaimed, exploration-based program that links students to real
science and scientists through technology intensive, inquiry-based curricula. Named for the mythological Greek hero Jason, who
traveled the far reaches of the ancient world in his ship Argo, JASON offers students unparalleled opportunities to explore the world
beyond their classroom.
In 2002, Dr. Ballard and Dr. Stephen M. Coan, president & CEO of Sea Research Foundation, founded Immersion Learning, a
nonprofit science education organization that brings ocean adventures, learning and real-life discoveries to kids in classrooms and
after-school settings. Together JASON and Immersion reach millions of aspiring young scientists nationwide and around the world.
Titanic’s discovery spawned many subsequent breakthrough technological advances. For instance, instead of the black and white
images transmitted by ARGO, by 2004 Dr. Ballard was using fiber-optic cable to transmit beautiful high definition color images of
Titanic using his new ROV Hercules.
The advent of Internet2 (a private 100 Gbps network open only to educators and researchers, which supports development of
revolutionary internet technologies) has enabled today’s telepresence technology, giving Dr. Ballard’s education efforts an
unprecedented boost. Through nautiluslive.org and the Nautilus Live Theater housed in the Ocean Exploration Center at Mystic
Aquarium, researchers, students and devotees of all ages can follow the course of Dr. Ballard’s ship, E/V Nautilus, as it searches for
natural deep water phenomena and remnants of human history. Participants are able to witness—live—discoveries as they are
revealed. Educators aboard facilitate a constant flow of information and questions to and from followers, while high school and
post-graduate students hone their skills and career paths working alongside top scientists.
The new Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below exhibit, created by Dr. Ballard and long-time friend and colleague Tim Delaney, a former Walt
Disney Imagineer, showcases the technology that made the ship’s discovery and continued research possible. Infused with world
class creativity, the exhibit also provides ample, interactive learning and self-discovery opportunities as guests journey through
Titanic’s story.
Unlike any other Titanic exhibit in the world, only in Mystic, Conn., can one fully comprehend and appreciate the spectacular,
emotional moment of the luxury liner’s discovery. Born, too, at that moment was Dr. Ballard’s quest to protect Titanic’s sacred
resting ground from unethical interests, and the new exhibit underscores this personal code. Advanced technology inspires new
endeavors, robust education opportunities spark the passion of future scientists, and compelling human stories spur mindful
affirmation of the human spirit. In sum, respect, conservation and preservation comprise the foundation of Dr. Ballard’s life’s work.
“My love of the undersea world and desire to share that love with everyone in a way that would not destroy the very thing we loved
is at the heart of all my missions. And why not take people who will never go themselves to this world? Through telepresence and
Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below we let them see deep-sea wonders, help them to understand, and together we can protect this precious
resource for future generations.”
Stay tuned for the September 2012 airing of Alien Deep A five-part miniseries hosted by Dr. Ballard and produced by National
Geographic, this film features never before seen footage of amazing deep-sea creatures.
History of Titanic
Built in Belfast, Ireland, by Harland and Wolff Shipbuilders, it took two years, 3,000 men and $7.5 million to build RMS Titanic. The
th
ship was 882.5 feet long—as tall as the 11 floor of the Chrysler Building—and had four funnels (or smokestacks), but only three
were functional. The fourth one was there for aesthetic reasons and was used merely as an air vent.
Titanic set sail from the White Star docks of Southampton, England, en route to New York at noon on April 10, 1912. At 6:35 p.m.
that evening, the 46,000-ton Titanic docked in Cherbourg, France, where 274 passengers boarded. Titanic departed Cherbourg at
8:10 p.m. and arrived in Ireland at noon the next day, April 11. There she took on sacks of mail and additional passengers and
departed that afternoon at 1:30 p.m. In Ireland 120 passengers boarded the ship, but a few actually left, including Belvedere College
teacher Frances M. Browne, who shot some of the last photographs ever taken of Titanic's ill-fated voyage.
Over the next three days, Titanic, commanded by Captain Edward J. Smith, received several warnings of heavy ice ahead. On April 14
alone, there were six ice warnings that described an ice area of more than 78 miles wide.
At 11:40 p.m. on April 14, just as passengers and crew were climbing into bed after a long night's celebration, Titanic hit an iceberg
in the North Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Newfoundland. The iceberg tore several holes in the hull, totaling only 12 square
feet, but the holes were torn over a distance of 248 feet, damaging the first four compartments and a portion of the fifth. It is
estimated that 16,000 cubic feet of water entered through those holes in the first 40 minutes after impact.
At 12:45 a.m. on the morning of April 15, the first lifeboat was lowered to the water from Titanic. Although each lifeboat was able to
hold 65 people, poor training and lack of information caused the crew to fill the first lifeboat with only 28 passengers. Surprisingly,
many of the 2,227 passengers and crew initially miscalculated that the sinking ship was safer than one of the departing lifeboats. It
was not until 1:15 a.m., when the ship began to go under, that passengers and crew quickly filled the lifeboats.
Becoming one of the first ships in history to use the new SOS international distress signal, Titanic sent its last message before the
final light went out and the ship sank to the bottom of the ocean by 2:20 a.m.
About the Ocean Exploration Center
What vast areas are inaccessible and locked in eternal darkness? The only museum in the world dedicated to deep-sea
oceanographic archaeology, geology and exploration, the Ocean Exploration Center is dedicated to revealing what lies on the
ocean floor. Conceived by renowned deep-sea explorer and Sea Research Foundation’s Institute for Exploration President Dr.
Robert Ballard, and presented by United Technologies Corporation, the exhibit hall brings guests on a voyage of discovery
through cutting-edge technology. Dr. Ballard’s famous expeditions are showcased in this multi-media space that introduces
guests to the emerging science of breakthrough undersea expeditions and discoveries.
In addition to Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below, the Ocean Exploration Center includes the Nautilus Live Theater, a new 4-D motion
theater, the Unknown Ocean: Exploring Inner Space kiosk and, coming soon, the William J. Drakos Gallery.
Nautilus Live Theater
Dr. Ballard’s deep-sea exploration comes alive in the Nautilus Live Theater. When the E/V Nautilus is at sea, a Nautilus team
member monitoring the expedition’s progress from shore hosts daily live shows in this state-of-the-art, 50-seat theater space,
which delivers the expedition live in high definition on a big screen. When Nautilus is at port, exciting presentations of recent
expeditions take place.
Through telepresence and two-way ship-to-shore technology, guests join Dr. Ballard and his team of scientists, engineers and
educators aboard the Nautilus as they explore the Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean in search of undiscovered natural
wonders of the undersea world, as well as lost chapters of human history. Guests see footage from Dr. Ballard’s previous
expeditions, hear about his greatest discoveries and expedition goals during an intimate interview, get the latest news on
shipboard activities and recent findings, and see the incredible tools used to explore our oceans in action. They can also talk
with a Nautilus team member and watch images from the ocean floor in real time.
People worldwide can experience the next generation of deep-sea exploration 24 hours a day at nautiluslive.org.
4-D Theater
Mist, bubbles, scents, snow and more tickle your senses as state-of-the-art 3-D and an interactive environment make films
come to life in our new 4-D Theater. Opening April 12, the 44-seat theater premiers with SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D and
future films include Planet Earth: Pole to Pole 4-D Experience and Polar Express 4-D Experience.
Unknown Ocean: Exploring Inner Space
The Unknown Ocean: Exploring Inner Space kiosk gives aquarium guests a personal introduction to deep-sea exploration.
Scientists narrate a unique four-screen presentation that simulates the experience of being in the Inner Space Center at the
University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, or aboard Dr. Ballard’s E/V Nautilus or NOAA Ship Okeanos
Explorer. Educating guests about exploration and increasing ocean literacy through video, animations and imagery, guests can
choose from ten different deep-sea topics. Unknown Ocean is funded by the NOAA Office of Education. Learn more about the
Inner Space Center at innerspacecenter.org.
William J. Drakos Gallery – Coming Soon
In honor of his late father, William J. Drakos, Sea Research Foundation Trustee Peter G. Drakos has funded a gallery
showcasing Dr. Ballard’s work, including his discovery of hydrothermal vents on the sea floor and some of America’s most
protected marine sanctuaries, and findings from Roman trading ships. The gallery will also present findings from Dr. Ballard’s
most recent expeditions off the continental shelf of the Eastern United States and in the Mediterranean, Black, and Aegean
Seas.
Dr. Stephen M. Coan
President & CEO, Sea Research Foundation
Dr. Stephen M. Coan is president and chief executive officer of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a
501(c)3 nonprofit organization which operates Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and
Immersion Learning. He is also chief executive officer of The JASON Project, an internationally
acclaimed science program for classroom students, also managed by Sea Research Foundation in
partnership with the National Geographic Society.
Dr. Coan has been an officer of Sea Research Foundation since 2001. He was appointed chief
operating officer in 2004, launching an organizational turnaround. He became president and CEO
in 2006 and has since raised more than $20 million in private and public funds to bring Mystic
Aquarium to the forefront of American aquariums. His reorganization, refinancing and rebranding
programs under the Sea Research umbrella have enabled the organization to advance its mission
nationally and internationally.
Prior to joining Sea Research Foundation, Dr. Coan was the chief education officer of the JASON Foundation for Education,
now known as The JASON Project. He has served as executive director of two educational organizations and held faculty
appointments at Tufts University, Bentley College and Cambridge College. He is director of the Chamber of Commerce of
Southeastern Connecticut, a trustee of the Pine Point School, police commissioner in the town of Stonington, Conn., a trustee
of the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation in Baltimore, Md., and a founding trustee of the North American Marine Environment
Protection Association.
Dr. Coan earned his bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and both a Masters in Management degree and a doctorate in
social policy from the Heller Graduate School at Brandeis. He has served as a youth minister and mentor to at-risk youth for
many years.
Dr. Robert D. Ballard
President, Sea Research Foundation’s Institute for Exploration
RMS Titanic Discoverer
“I grew up wanting to be Captain Nemo from Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.”
Best known for his 1985 discovery of Titanic, Dr. Robert Ballard has succeeded in tracking down
numerous other significant shipwrecks, including the German battleship Bismarck, the lost fleet of
Guadalcanal, the U.S. aircraft carrier Yorktown (sunk in the World War II Battle of Midway), and
John F. Kennedy’s boat, PT-109.
While those discoveries have captured the imagination of the public, Dr. Ballard believes his most
important discoveries were of hydrothermal vents and “black smokers” in the Galapagos Rift and
East Pacific Rise in 1977 and 1979 along with their exotic life forms living off the energy of the
Earth through a process now called chemosynthesis.
In addition to being a National Geographic Society Explorer-In-Residence and a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on
Ocean Policy, Dr. Ballard is the founder and president of Sea Research Foundation's Institute for Exploration in Mystic, Conn.
Dr. Ballard was born June 30, 1942, in Wichita, Kan., but moved to California at a very young age and grew up exploring the
shore in San Diego. Dr. Ballard holds a Ph.D. in marine geology and geophysics from the University of Rhode Island. He spent
30 years at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, where he helped develop telecommunications technology to create
“telepresence” for his JASON Project, which allows millions of schoolchildren to accompany him from afar on undersea
explorations around the globe each year. In 2001, he returned to the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of
Rhode Island where he is presently a tenured Professor of Oceanography and Director of the Center for Ocean Exploration and
Archaeological Oceanography.
Dr. Ballard has 21 honorary degrees and six military awards. He was also a commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve, serving in
the Navy from 1967 to 1997. He received the National Geographic Society’s prestigious Hubbard Medal in 1996 for
“extraordinary accomplishments in coaxing secrets from the world’s oceans and engaging students in the wonder of science.”
Dr. Ballard has published numerous books, scientific papers and a dozen articles in National Geographic magazine. Dr. Ballard
also has been featured in several National Geographic television programs, including the record-breaking “Secrets of the
Titanic.”
His discoveries also include sunken remains of ships along ancient trade routes in the Mediterranean Sea; two ancient
Phoenician ships off Israel, the oldest shipwrecks ever found in deep water; and four 1,500-year-old wooden ships, one almost
perfectly preserved in the Black Sea. Dr. Ballard’s Black Sea project seeks evidence of a great flood that may have struck the
region thousands of years ago.
His 1997 best-selling book, Lost Liners, tells the story of the great transatlantic liners through memorable wrecks he has
visited. Dr. Ballard was also a special advisor on Steven Spielberg’s futuristic Sea Quest, DSV television show.
An explorer, discoverer and historian, Dr. Ballard’s fascinating journeys can teach us a great deal about our past, and they
have encouraged others to take tremendous strides in the survey of the undiscovered mysteries of the deep sea.
Tim Delaney
Lead Creator, Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below
The new Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below exhibit “takes people to the ocean floor, a whole new world
and a mysterious, awesome place to be,” states Tim Delaney, lead creator of the exhibit. “There,
visitors can better appreciate the fascinating human drama and incredible technical story of how
Dr. Robert Ballard found Titanic, as well as the powerful impact on the crew’s and public’s
imaginations.”
Delaney, a former Walt Disney Imagineer, and Dr. Ballard first met over 30 years ago. They
collaborated on EPCOT’s Living Seas Pavilion back in 1985 and have been great friends since then.
Now they’ve teamed up to bring a one-of-a-kind, interactive experience that celebrates Titanic’s
glorious beginning, examines her undoing and reveals the jubilant moment of her discovery.
As principle of Tim J. Delaney Design Inc., Delaney offers his clients world class creative expertise.
During his 34 years at Walt Disney Imagineering, Delaney led teams that designed and
constructed over $1.2 billion of Disney Parks and attractions worldwide, including Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Hong Kong.
Delaney’s many accomplishments and awards include the 2002 Ray Bradbury Award for Lifetime of Creative Excellence and
the 1996 THEA Award for Best Attraction: Space Mountain at Disneyland® Paris. He graduated with honors from Art Center
College of Design, and is on the Steering Committee for Art Center's Legacy Circle, an alumni-led group of volunteers
committed to supporting students through financial contributions; all funds raised are distributed to students through Art
Center scholarships.
For more information about Tim Delaney, visit timjdelaney.com.
EWI Worldwide
EWI Worldwide, a global live communications company, partnered with Tim Delaney to develop
detailed designs of Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below, as well as to project manage, fabricate and install the
exhibit. EWI Worldwide also provided design collaboration and total development and production of
the digital elements in the exhibit.
EWI Worldwide strategically integrates all phases of live communications to conceive, create and
execute programs and develop market-appropriate solutions. They do this by tapping into the
expertise and resources of their service teams - specializing in Exhibits, Events, Digital Engagements, Museums and Retail which work together to help you tell your brand story and deliver real results from creative development to final product.
EWI Worldwide’s solid position in the industry is built upon a foundation of serving a broad range of verticals, including wellknown transportation, healthcare, consumer technology and manufacturing clients. In fact, their first client, Dana
Corporation, is still with them today; expanding its global footprint.
For more information about EWI Worldwide, visit ewiworldwide.com.
Made Possible by the Support of United Technologies Corporation
In the fall of 2010, United Technologies Corp. and Sea Research Foundation announced a
$1 million donation by UTC toward the expansion and transformation of Mystic
Aquarium’s Challenge of the Deep exhibit hall, now renamed the Ocean Exploration
Center.
The new Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below exhibit represents the first stage of the project. The Ocean Exploration Center is the only
exhibit hall in the world dedicated to deep-sea oceanographic archaeology, geology and exploration. Guests will be immersed
in hands-on displays that depict everything from mythical sea monsters to Dr. Robert Ballard’s groundbreaking undersea
discoveries of vessels—ancient and modern—as well as his recent expeditions to the Black, Mediterranean and Aegean seas.
“United Technologies has a proud history of supporting science and technology education and the communities in which we
live and work,” said UTC Senior Vice President for Science & Technology Dr. J. Michael McQuade. “This exploration center is
closely aligned with UTC’s own history of pioneering innovation and discovery. We believe our donation will launch a major
new attraction at the Mystic Aquarium, become the catalyst for even more contributions from others, and inspire generations
of future scientists and engineers.”
For more information about United Technologies Corp., visit utc.com.
About Sea Research Foundation
Based in Mystic, Conn., Sea Research Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that
operates Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and, in partnership with National
Geographic Society, The JASON Project and its Immersion Learning program. The mission of
Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through
education, research and exploration. Sea Research receives major support from United Technologies Corp., The Coca-Cola
Company and Foxwoods Resort Casino.
For more information about Sea Research, visit searesearch.org.
Fact Sheet
Opening Date for Media:
April 11, 2012
Opening Date for Public:
April 12, 2012
Exhibit Admission:
Free with Mystic Aquarium general admission or membership
General Admission:
Single admission tickets:
•
Adult $29
•
Senior (age 60+) $26
•
Children (age 3 - 17) $21
•
Children (age 2 and under) free
General admission tickets may be validated before leaving the aquarium and used again on
the next two consecutive days
Parking is free
Exhibit Hours:
Mystic Aquarium is open daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas
•
April - October: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
•
November: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
•
December - February: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
•
March: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Once inside, guests may stay one additional hour after close. Hours are subject to change
without notice
Exhibit Location:
Mystic Aquarium’s Ocean Exploration Center
55 Coogan Blvd.
Mystic, CT 06355
Mystic Aquarium is located in Mystic just off Exit 90 on Interstate 95, about 10 miles east of
New London along Connecticut's southeastern shore
Contact Information:
Erin Merz
Manager of Media & Public Relations
860.572.5955 ext. 338
[email protected]
www.mysticaquarium.org