MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Chaney

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING DR. ROBERT D. BALLARD, FOUNDER OF THE JASON PROJECT AND DISCOVERER OF THE SUNKEN TITANIC, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION IN MAKING SCIENCE MORE ACCESSIBLE, MORE EXCITING AND MORE REAL TO THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN MISSISSIPPI BY BRINGING HIS ANNUAL JASON PROJECT EXPEDITIONS INTO CLASSROOMS ELECTRONICALLY. 

WHEREAS, Dr. Robert D. Ballard, discoverer of the RMS Titanic founded the JASON Project in 1989 after receiving thousands of letters from school children who wanted to know who discovered the RMS Titanic; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ballard has led or participated in more than 100 deep sea expeditions, including the use of the deep diving submersibles ALVIN, ARCHIMEDE, TRIESTE II, TURTLE, BEN FRANKLIN, CYANA and NR-1; and

WHEREAS, these expeditions included the first manned exploration of the Mid-Ocean Ridge, the discovery of warm water springs and their unusual animal communities in the Galapagos Rift, the discovery of the wrecks of the Titanic and the German Battleship Bismark, exploration of the wreck of the liner Lusitania and 11 ships of the lost fleet of Guadalcanal; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ballard is founder of the JASON Foundation for Education, whose mission is to administer the JASON Project, and to excite and engage students in science and technology and to motivate and provide professional development for their teachers; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ballard is also the founder and head of the Institute for Exploration at Mystic Marinelife Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut, which specializes in deep-ocean archeology; and

WHEREAS, in 1997, Dr. Ballard conducted the first deep-ocean archaeological expedition resulting in the discovery of ancient Roman ships complete with cargo spanning five centuries of Roman history beginning in the first century B.C.; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ballard continues to involve and inspire students and teachers in real-life science through his annual JASON Project expedition; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi is proud to be one of four statewide networks that bring JASON IX: Oceans of Earth and Beyond to students and teachers across the state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Dr. Robert D. Ballard for his leadership and dedication in bringing the JASON Project science expeditions to students and teachers in Mississippi and throughout the world.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Robert D. Ballard and members of the Capitol Press Corps.