David Gallo

David Gallo, Ph.D. is an American oceanographer and Director of Special Projects at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, a globally renowned scientific organization. For over 25 years, Gallo has been a leader in ocean exploration, contributing to significant technological advancements and scientific discoveries that have deepened our understanding of the planet. He has been characterized by TED Conferences as "an enthusiastic ambassador between the sea and those of us on dry land." His TED presentation "Underwater Astonishments" has attracted more than 8 million views, making it one of the top three most-viewed TED Talks.

In 1987, he joined Robert Ballard's team at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution as Assistant Director of the Center for Marine Exploration. Gallo has played a pivotal role in pioneering the use of robotics and submarines to map deep-sea regions, including creating the first detailed and comprehensive map of the RMS Titanic. He also co-led the international mission that successfully located the remains of Air France flight 447. Currently, Gallo is involved in planning an international expedition to find and document the wreckage of Ernest Shackleton's ship, HMS Endurance.

Gallo is deeply committed to enhancing public understanding of ocean exploration's significance. He has delivered lectures worldwide, targeting a diverse audience from children to corporate executives, and has appeared in numerous documentaries on major networks such as Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and History Channel. Furthermore, he has been featured on several news programs, including the Weather Channel, PBS's Need to Know, and NBC's Today show. Recently, Gallo was honored with the Lotus Club Distinguished Achievement Award in Science and was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, acknowledging his substantial contributions to ocean science and exploration.