aquatic science timeline

Works Cited

• http://marinebio.org/oceans/history-of-marine-biology.asp
• http://www.marinebio.net/marinescience/01intro/behist.htm
• http://www.meer.org/ebook/M1112.htm

1977

1768

The manned submersible Alvin discovers the existence of unique communities of organisms around deep-sea thermal vents.

James Cook explores all of the oceans. He was one of the first to make scientific observations along the way. He was the first to make use of the chronometer. He extended and reshaped the European conception of the world, and was the first European to see the Antarctic ice fields and to land in Hawai'i, New Zealand, and many Pacfic islands.

1968

The Glomar Challenger Expedition proves the theory of plate tectonics and develops the technology for deep-sea drilling.

1826

Henri Milne Edwards and Victor Andouin begin making regular visits to the shore to study the life there, instead of studying the ocean from ships. Other biologists soon followed suits.

1960

Jean Piccard and Don Walsh descend to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest known point in the ocean. They reached a depth of 35,814 feet.

1831

1950

The Galathea Expedition made deepwater collections from around the world. On this expedition, scientists secured biological material from a record depth of 33,430 feet.

Charles Darwin sails around the world on the HMS Beagle. On this trip, he made detailed observations of all aspects of the natural world. He would later propose the theory of evolution.

Aquatic Science Timeline

1943

Jacque Cousteau and Émile Gagnon create the first practical scuba. This allowed marine biologists to work comfortably in the ocean and observe marine organisms in their natural environment.

1840's and 1850's

Angelina Johnson 4th

Edward Forbes carries out extensive dredging of the sea floor. He discovered many organisms and recognized that seafloor life is different at different depths. Most importantly, he inspired new interest in the life of the sea floor.

1934

William Beebe and Otis Barton make the first descent into the ocean, in a contained unit, to a depth of 3,072 feet. This marked the first time that scientists observed deep sea animals in their natural environment.

1855

Matthew Fontaine Maury writes The Physical Geography of the Sea. This is the first extensive book on oceanography to be published.

1902

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) is established in Denmark. This allowed an international exchange of information and ideas of all aspects of marine sciences.

1872

1888

Anton Dohrn establishes the Stazione Zoologica in Naples, Italy. This was the first permanent lab dedicated to the study of marine life.

The Marine Biological Laboratory is established by Louis Agassiz in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This was the first major American marine laboratory and remains one of the world's most prestigious marine stations.

1872

1882

The USS Albatross is built. It became the first research vessel ever built especially for marine research.

The HMS Challenger, led by Charles Wyville Thompson, sails around the world. This expedition brought back more information about the ocean than had been recorded in all of previous human history. It also set new standards for studying the ocean.