Dr. William Ryan
Birthday: Born in 1939-09-01 in Troy, New York, United States
Deathday: Alive
William B. F. Ryan (born 1 September 1939 in Troy, New York, USA) is an American marine geologist and geophysicist known for his pioneering work in deep‑sea research and oceanographic instrumentation. He earned his B.A. from Williams College in 1961 and his Ph.D. in Geophysics from Columbia University in 1969. Over a long career at the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, he held roles including Adjunct Professor of Geology, Doherty Senior Scientist, and (since 2014) Doherty Senior Scholar, mentoring generations of earth scientists and participating in research expeditions worldwide. Among his many scientific contributions is his involvement in early sonar‑based searches for the wreck of the RMS Titanic in the early 1980s. His research spans marine geology, seafloor mapping, plate tectonics, and paleoclimate, and he has received honors including the Society for Sedimentary Geology Shepard Medal and election to the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei.
TV Credits
Titanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck
Character: Self
For seven decades after its tragic sinking, the Titanic lay undiscovered on the ocean floor. This compelling two-part documentary tracks the search for the wreck across the depths of the Atlantic....
Movie Credits
Search for the Titanic
Character: Self
In “Search for the Titanic”, Orson Welles takes viewers into a massive expedition attempting to locate the remains of the famous unsinkable ship at the bottom of the North Atlantic several years after its sinking on its maiden voyage in April 1912....
Return to the Titanic
Character: Self
Explorer Mike Harris leads a second North Atlantic expedition to locate the RMS Titanic, joined by television star James Drury, as the team uses improved technology to investigate promising sonar clues on the ocean floor following their earlier search....