The New Age of Exploration

I can't imagine a better time to be interning at National Geographic. The Society is celebrating its 125th year anniversary and James Cameron, a Nat Geo Explorer-in-Residence, recently took his one-manned submersible down to the deepest part of the ocean. To top it all off, I was able to attend the

James Cameron

annual Explores Symposium. This event consisted of three days of presentations from the coolest people I have ever had the privilege of meeting, the National Geographic 2013 Emerging Explorers!
An emerging explorer is a person who is sought out by National Geographic and recognized for their amazing achievements in science, humanity, and exploration. The symposium marks the beginning of their research under the funding of the Society.

Everyone at Nat Geo took off three days of work to listen to these cutting edge presentations and interact with the brilliant explorers. Unfortunately, I can't tell you a lot about the new explorers since most of their presentations consisted of unpublished work. However, I will say to watch out for these guys because they are right on the edge of some amazing new breakthroughs.

To read more about National Geographic's 2013 Emerging Explorers, visit:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/grants-programs/emerging-explorers/

Getting to know Cameron

My week kicked off with an education event downtown featuring James Cameron and the one-manned submersible that he envisioned, built, and successfully dove down to the deepest part of the Ocean - the Mariana Trench. Cameron, the sub and his talented team of engineers were making their way across the country to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, where the sub will reside for future ocean exploration efforts. Fortunately, Cameron and the team decided to make a pit stop in DC for the Symposium.

Along with being a determined and daring explorer, Cameron is well known for his film-making career. Do the movie titles Avatar, Aliens, and the Titanic ring a bell? Many know Cameron as a creative and inspiring movie writer/director, but before his red carpet glory, there was a young dreamer and explorer that is still very alive in his work today.

At this downtown event, Cameron offered to pay for the transportation of all students from their schools to Woodrow Wilson Plaza so that they could see the sub with their own eyes and hear Cameron talk about his dive in person. National Geographic Education was there to keep the kids preoccupied while they anxiously waited for Cameron to arrive. That's where my job came in: manning the coloring station. You always have to expect the unexpected with these kids. One minute they are perfect angels drawing their own submarine designs on our large paper banners, then you turn around for a second and they've decided to move their creative efforts to the expensive National Geographic table covers.

When Cameron arrived, he was greeted by two hundred screaming kids. Joggers and bikers stopped in their paths to see the lime green sub that had traveled seven miles under the ocean's surface. In between answering questions and confiscating crayons, I actually had a moment to stop and listen to what Cameron had to say.

He spoke directly to the kids as if he was having a conversation with each of them. You'd think someone so smart and so successful might be hard to relate to. This was not the case with James Cameron whatsoever. He was relatable and inspiring as he encouraged everyone to "be their own explorer." When someone finally brought up his movies, he gestured to the sub behind him and simply said, "I only make those movies so I can get the money to go out and do this stuff!"

Taking the Plunge

Cameron was drawn to the deepest depths of the ocean after his work with the Titanic. He is one of three people that have visited Challenger Deep, which lies almost 7 miles under the ocean's surface in the western Pacific Ocean. However, he is the only person to have spent more than 20 minutes at the bottom.

James Cameron talking to the crowd

Cameron worked with a team of engineers from different sides of the world to create a one-man submersible strong enough to endure the challenges of the Ocean's depths. Seven years alter, they launched a mismatched lime green submarine into the stormy dark water above the Mariana Trench. After spending only three hours on the seafloor, Cameron was able to collect dozens of new species. A year later, scientists are still working with DNA samples and camera footage from the sub's dive. They believe that this data will lead to even more new species as well as a better understanding of how life exists in the deepest place on earth.

What I really love about Cameron's story is his evident passion for scientific exploration.


The Pilot's chamber - only 43 inches in diameter - a tight squeeze for 6ft. tall Cameron!

This expedition wasn't simply about breaking a record or being a hero. Cameron was determined to not only make it to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, but to also document every inch of it he could. The sub was equipped with high-resolution 3-D cameras and a hydraulic manipulator arm for taking samples. Most of the technology and materials used had to be newly invented by Cameron and his team of engineers. This expedition was made possible by science and its mission was first and foremost the exploration of an unknown world for the sake of new scientific discovery.

Understanding Exploration

In today's society it is very easy to mistake daredevils for explorers. I think it's important to recognize the people who risk their lives for the sake of science, discovery and a better world. Traveling to the deepest part of the ocean with new technology that can retrieve previously undiscovered data is exploration at its finest. Walking on a tightrope across the Grand Canyon... well, I personally view that a little differently.

Inside the pilot's chamber

If you haven't read the Challenger Deep story, I encourage you to do a little research. It's impossible for me to fully describe the details of this amazing adventure that was seven years in the making. Check out the link below to find out more about the sub and hear Cameron's first-person account of his voyage to the deep.

http://deepseachallenge.com/

For insight on how I became so passionate about the sea and marine environment, read the blog below.

A Day on the Bay -
   How a Seahorse Inspired a Passion for the Sea

Read my blog on National Geographic's Education site to see how a day on the water turned into a passion for our oceans.

http://blog.education.nationalgeographic.com/2013/07/02/a-day-in-the-bay/