Titanic Live!  This historic expedition (June 4-9, 2004) was live via satellite and a National Geographic Channel television broadcast was produced from this expedition.  The curriculum for this expedition consisted of activities concerning the ship, how to float such a heavy object, why the Titanic sank, how the ship has changed since it sank, navigation, longitude and latitude, Morse Code, communication satellites, and a debate about what should happen to the Titanic debris.  The online digital lab uses old photographs and music and allows students to create their own Titanic Movie.  A DVD is available, showing highlights of the broadcast.  This curriculum will be highlighted during the 2007-08 teacher workshops. 

Black Sea  Ongoing research in the Black Sea brings Dr. Ballard back to this area nearly every summer.  The first Black Sea broadcast was in 2003 and the most recent one was August 2007.  Interesting highlights of the curriculum and extensions are the finding of ancient artifacts in the anoxic layer of the Sea, preserving these artifacts in pristine condition.  Some activities focus on marine archeology, SONAR, use of ROVs, culture and history, and the geology and geography of the region.  A highlight DVD is available from 2003 and a wrap of video of the 2007 expedition is online.

Life at the Extremes  In July 2005, Dr. Robert Ballard and Dr. Deborah Kelley led a scientific adventure, Life at the Extremes, to explore the newly discovered Lost City hydrothermal vent field along the mid-Atlantic ridge. To examine this field 2,100 feet underwater required an amazing combination of cutting-edge robotics and communications technology.

The Life at the Extremes expedition was the first ever to have one of its principal scientists take part entirely through telepresence. Dr. Kelley participated from her command center at the University of Washington in Seattle, while Dr. Ballard was aboard the NOAA ship Ronald H. Brown.

In addition to discovering and studying amazing life forms, the curriculum focused on the biological, chemical, and geological processes that formed the amazing Lost City hydrothermal vents and its ecosystem.  The highlight DVD is amazing, and videos and photos are available online.  There is also a webquest for students to investigate online.

Dolphins  A year long expedition in 2006-07 followed Dr. Kathleen Dudzinski as she conducted research on dolphins.  The Immersion Presents Dolphins Adventure Series consists of 12 activities about these fascinating aquatic mammals. The activities cover six thematic explorations: biology, behavior, sound, research tools, history and culture, and careers.  Dr. Dudzinski, a scientist-in-residence at Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, has studied dolphin communication for more than 15 years. The DVD identifies various dolphin communication strategies and is integral to the curriculum.  Podcasts of dolphin information are available, a few in video format, and a fun digital lab called “Dolphin Speak” is online.

Ancient Eruptions  The 2006 broadcast included explorations of the Black Sea, Aegean Sea, and Sea of Crete. The expedition, which included some Boys and Girls club students, came from the Aegean Sea, as Dr. Ballard explored the waters around the Greek island of Thera (Santorini).  During the Bronze Age, the volcano Thera exploded, destroying the island, creating a tsunami, and marking the beginning of the end of the Minoan civilization.  The curriculum highlights volcanoes and volcanic activity as well as plate tectonics.  These science concepts are integrated with ideas about the Minoan civilization and the artifacts left behind.  This was the central curriculum used throughout 2006.  DVD highlights and online digital labs are available. 

Secrets of the Gulf  What do manta rays, bubbling mud volcanoes, and 20,000-year-old shorelines have in common? All were important parts of the Secrets of the Gulf expedition during March 2007. The broadcast originated in the Flower Garden Banks, an area of coral reefs off the Texas and Louisiana coasts in the Gulf of Mexico  Many researchers, two ships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) took part in the expedition.  Highlights of the curriculum include corals and coral reefs, the Gulf of Mexico, salt domes and petroleum, brine seeps and mud volcanoes, manta rays, and careers.  A highlights DVD is available and an online webquest takes a look at the many uses of this National Marine Sanctuary.

Monterey Bay  Since the broadcast originated in California, the Palm Desert Campus is highlighting “Coastal California” during 2007-08.  We will take a look at the geography, geology, ecosystems, and native American cultures in the Coachella Valley and learn about their relationship to the Channel Islands and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries. 

 Join us from March 2-8, 2008 as Immersion Presents explores the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Monterey, California. Using the R/V Fulmar, the expedition team will explore many of the region's fascinating ecosystems--including estuaries, kelp forests, and submarine canyons. The team will focus on a variety of research and monitoring projects aimed at better understanding and managing the rich marine resources of the sanctuary. Expedition scientists will also study the role that currents, shared habitats, and key species play in connecting the Monterey Bay Sanctuary with adjacent sanctuaries and the open ocean. Live broadcasts can be viewed at any of our Immersion Sites, via internet2, or on our Web site during five broadcasts each day.