(KAIR)--World-renowned ocean explorer Dr. Robert Ballard visited Atchison Tuesday, addressing Atchison High School students and faculty, along with community leaders and residents, during a forum held in the school’s gymnasium.

Ballard, who is best-known for his 1985 discovery of the Titanic, is now on a quest to find the plane flown by Amelia Earhart when she disappeared in the Central Pacific Ocean.

During his presentation, Ballard talked about a process of ocean exploration that he helped pioneer called tele-presence. Tele-presence is a process by which high definition video can be streamed in real-time to scientists, education, and the general public.

Ballard refers to his team’s work as the “Second Lewis and Clark” expedition, stating that 50 percent of the US lies unexplored beneath the sea.

Ballard’s presentation included a live video conference with scientists on board his exploration ship, “The Nautilus”, which is exploring the US territories near Howland Island, where many researchers believe Earhart’s plane is located.

In speaking with reporters after the presentation, Ballard expressed confidence that Earhart’s plane would be found. “Oh it’s there,” Ballard said. “We’re not looking for the Loch Ness Monster. I think it’s absolutely going to get found. It’s a question of when, and that really becomes a question of the emerging technologies.”

Dr. Ballard’s invitation to speak came from US Senator Jerry Moran, and was organized in partnership with USD 409 administration.

Moran is the chairperson for the Senate Appropriations Sub-committee that funds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and funds Dr. Ballard’s research in ocean exploration.