Ocean explorer and conservationist Dr. David E. Guggenheim, the "Ocean Doctor," begins a one-year journey of

education and discovery called The Ocean Doctor's 50 Years - 50 States - 50

Speeches Expedition. The expedition begins on January 7, 2009 at the Sonoma

Ecology Center in Eldridge, California.

Announced by Guggenheim on his 50th birthday, the expedition will bring,

at no charge, speeches about the oceans to schools in all 50 U.S. states plus

territories. By its culmination at the end of 2009, Guggenheim will have

reached tens of thousands of students in a wide range of communities,

including the northernmost city Barrow, Alaska.

Guggenheim will share his adventures exploring ocean depths with videos

from his experiences piloting a small, one-person submarine, bringing lessons

about the oceans and conservation. In return, Guggenheim expects to learn from

the students about their perspectives on the oceans. Guggenheim will share his

travels in real time via the Internet.

Guggenheim will bring students' messages back to Washington - literally.

He will deliver handwritten "messages in a bottle" to the Obama Administration

to share students' thoughts, hopes and dreams for the future of the oceans.

The project will also connect students with one another. Billed as "the first

social network for the other 70 percent of the planet," a new web site,

ExploreOurOceans.org, has been launched allowing students to create their own

ocean blogs and even seek advice from volunteer online experts.

Guggenheim's inspiration for this project comes from the fact that,

despite recent trends toward environmental awareness, a serious lack of public

"ocean literacy" remains. According to the Ocean Literacy Network, most in the

U.S. are unaware or only vaguely aware of environmental problems in the

oceans. Recalling the inspiration his generation enjoyed from the space

program, Guggenheim states, "I hope to stimulate the same sort of awe and

wonder, drawing students into ocean issues by inspiring their imagination,

setting the stage for learning about science and conservation."