Friday's Egan Lecture: Origins, Evolution, and Destiny: Clues from the Deepest Sea

Dr. David Gallo, Director of Special Projects, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, will speak about how new undersea technologies have allowed us to explore the underwater world with unprecedented clarity and resolution.

Juneau, Alaska

Date of Press Release: October 12, 2009

Dr. David Gallo, Director of Special Projects, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Friday, Oct.16, 2009, 7 p.m., Egan Library, UAS

At the next Evening at Egan, see how new undersea technologies have allowed us to explore the underwater world with unprecedented clarity and resolution.  “To date we've explored only a few percent of the sea, but already we have revolutionized the way we think about life on earth and other planets,” said Gallo.  “Like detectives we are on the trail of some of the greatest mysteries of all time and for the first time we are beginning to understand the intimate relationship between humanity and the sea.  This presentation will use high-resolution video to share some of the most recent discoveries and will introduce the audience to a new era of undersea exploration.”

David Gallo works to push the bounds of oceanic discovery. Active in undersea exploration, he was one of the first oceanographers to use a combination of manned submersibles and robots to map the ocean world with unprecedented clarity and detail.   He was a co-expedition leader during an exploration of the RMS Titanic and the German battleship Bismarck, using Russian Mir subs as well as a participant in a recent expedition to find the lost WWII submarine USS Grunion. On behalf of the Woods Hole labs, he appears around the country speaking on ocean and water issues, and leading tours of the deep-ocean submersible Alvin.

David Gallo received a B.Sc and M. Sc. degree in geological science from the State University of New York at Albany and a Ph.D. in oceanography from the University of Rhode Island. In 1987 he was invited by Dr. Robert Ballard (discoverer of the wreck of RMS Titanic) to join his team at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution as the Assistant Director of the Center for Marine Exploration.

In his present role, David works closely with scientists and engineers at the forefront of global exploration and discovery.  He has participated in numerous expeditions to the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, and to the Mediterranean Sea. He was one of the first oceanographers to use a combination of submarines and robots to map the undersea world.

In addition to ocean exploration, he is currently interested in understanding the relationship between humanity and the sea.  He was closely involved in the formulation and development of the Liquid Jungle Laboratory of Panama, a venture designed to better understand the interaction between people, tropical forests, and coastal marine habitats.

David is passionate about exploration and discovery and dedicated to communicating the importance of science and engineering to the public-at-large.  He maintains close working relationships with scientists, filmmakers, and media broadcasters (Discovery Channel, History Channel, and National Geographic, PBS).  He was instrumental in the development of the JASON PROJECT and is presently involved with the FIRST Robotics Competition, and with the National Underwater Robotics Competition.

He is also the keynote speaker for the Alaska Statewide Math and Science conference being held for the first time this week in Juneau.

“Your enthusiasm is infectious and I can’t wait to share it with my students as well as my own teenage children!” --Jennifer Thompson, Gastineau Elementary, participant of Alaska Math & Science Conference 2007.

All lectures are free and open to the public. For other Evening at Egan Lectures, visit the Evening at Egan Website.