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Ballard is a pioneer in the development of deep-sea submersibles and tele-operated robotics undersea vehicle systems, having taken part in more than 140 deep-sea expeditions. His discoveries include hydrothermal vents and their chemosynthetic animals communities in the deep sea and such famous shipwrecks as the ocean liner Titanic, the German battleship Bismarck, President J.F. Kennedy's PT-109 and the U.S. aircraft carrier Yorktown. He also spearheads the JASON Foundation for Education, a distance learning program that takes young students on scientific expeditions around the world via the Internet. The author of 15 books, including two bestsellers, Ballard has helped produce more than six Emmy award-winning television documentaries. He received National Geographic's highest award, the Hubbard Medal, and was also the recipient of the National Endowment for the Humanities Medal.  He is Founder and President of the Ocean Exploration Trust.