University of Rhode Island Proposes Undersea Exploration Center

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP) -- Oceanographer Robert Ballard sees the University of Rhode Island with an opportunity to become the undersea equivalent of the Houston Space Center.

All that's needed is for voters to approve a $14-million bond to build a 46,000-square-foot Marine Science Library and Undersea Exploration Center.

"What Houston is to outer space, the Inner Space Center will be to undersea exploration," said Ballard, the oceanographer who discovered the Titanic.

"We're talking about electronic travel," said Ballard, who directs the Institute for Archaeological Oceanography at URI, a new graduate program. "We're talking about allowing children to explore the ocean in real time from the comfort of their classrooms. This will create a wonderful synergy between scientists and students."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently acquired a Navy ship that will be connected to the Inner Space Center, which will be able to beam underwater exploration to Rhode Island schools. The broadcasts will also be sent to Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Rhode Island.

Scientists would transmit a high-definition TV signal from a remote-operated vehicle on the ocean floor to a command and control center at URI.

"Rhode Island is the first state where all of its schools are on Internet 2," Ballard said, "a high-bandwidth telecommunications network that makes the Internet look like a dirt road. Students will be able to go on our ship, talk to the crew and watch discoveries as they happen. We're linking our future to exploration and education."

Rhode Island children will also be able to tour the world's national marine sanctuaries, thanks to a partnership between URI and Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, where Ballard runs the Institute for Exploration.

The proposed facility will have a viewing area to allow the public to observe these activities.

The Inner Space Center will be also be home to the new graduate program, which Ballard called a marriage of ancient history, art and oceanography. The first five students, who were admitted this fall, are studying human history that occurred beneath the sea.

Scientists could also use the center to participate in expeditions without ever going to sea.

"Rhode Island and URI have long prided themselves on being in the forefront of ocean research," said Steven Carey, a professor of oceanography at URI. "We need the infrastructure to compete for federal research dollars and to make us competitive in ocean research."